Section 1.  Section 13 of Chapter 463 of the Acts of 2004 as amended by Chapter 130 of the Acts of 2010 is hereby amended by striking Section 13 in its entirety and replacing it with the following:-

"SECTION 13. Beginning July 1, 2015, employees of the district shall be eligible to participate in all group insurance programs and benefits administered by the group insurance commission pursuant to section 16 of chapter 34B of the General Laws; but, the district shall reimburse the commonwealth for costs of group insurance and benefits attributable to the district. Until July 1, 2015, the district shall assume responsibility for the collection and payment of premium costs for all benefits for any active employee absorbed by the district who is covered by the group insurance commission on the date the Essex agricultural and technical high school ceases to exist under this statute.

Section 13A. Employees of the district shall become members of the city of Salem contributory retirement system, except that educators certified under section 38G of chapter 71 of the General Laws who are employed by the district shall be members of the teachers' retirement system under chapter 32. Employees of the district shall be considered public employees for purposes of tort liability under chapter 258 of the General Laws, and the school committee shall be considered the public employer for purposes of tort liability under said chapter 258."

Section 2.  Section 18 of Chapter 463 of the Acts of 2004 as amended by Chapter 130 of the Acts of 2010 is hereby amended by striking the number "13" and replacing it with "13A".