Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding chapter 32B of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the city of Waltham may provide to its former employees who have retired from the service of the city of Waltham before the passage of this act, and to their eligible dependents, the same health care benefit plan or its equivalent as now exists, or may exist in the future, for active city of Waltham employees. The retired employees and their eligible dependents shall continue to receive the same percentage of premium contributions provided by the city as is paid on the effective date of this act for so long as the retired employee or their eligible dependents remain continuously enrolled in the health care benefit plan or its equivalent, notwithstanding any alteration in health insurance plans or health plan premiums by the city. The retired employees and their eligible dependents shall continue to pay any deductible or coinsurance payments in the same amount and at the same rate as active city of Waltham employees.

All city of Waltham employees who retire from the city of Waltham after passage of this act, or their eligible dependents, shall continue to receive the same percentage of premium contribution provided by the city as of the date of the employee's retirement for so long as the retiree or their eligible dependents remain continuously enrolled in said health benefit plan or its equivalent as offered by the city of Waltham notwithstanding any alteration in health insurance plans or health plan premiums by said city.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

This Bill having been returned by His Excellency the Governor with his objections thereto in writing (see Senate 2433) has been passed by the Senate, the objections of His Excellency the Governor to the contrary notwithstanding, two-thirds of the Senate (33 yeas to 6 nays) having agreed to the same.

Sent to the House of Representatives for its action.

Robert E. Travaglini, President.
William F. Welch, Clerk.

House of Representatives, July 14, 2004.

Passed by the House of Representatives, notwithstanding the objections of His Excellency the Governor, two-thirds of the members present (131 yeas to 22 nays) having approved the same.