HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3006        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sheila C. Harrington

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to authorize the town of Ayer to negotiate and purchase group insurance policies for employees retirees and dependents without being subject to collective bargaining.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3006        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 697 OF 2011-2012.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act to authorize the town of Ayer to negotiate and purchase group insurance policies for employees retirees and dependents without being subject to collective bargaining.

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 the provisions of chapter 32B and chapter 150E of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the Town of Ayer is authorized at the discretion of the board of  selectmen in consultation with the Insurance Advisory Committee, without bargaining under said chapters 32B or 150E concerning the decision or the impact thereof, to negotiate and purchase group insurance policies for employees, retirees and their dependents; alter current and future group insurance plan design features including but not limited to copayments, deductibles, and tiered provider network copayments; and participate in or join a state program providing group insurance policies including those provided by the Group Insurance Commission or other similar program.

SECTION 2. The provisions of this act shall not affect the town’s obligations under any collective bargaining agreement(s) between the town and any unions in effect on the effective date of this act; provided however, that for purposes of this act, the town’s collective bargaining obligations with respect to group insurance policies under any such collective bargaining agreement(s) shall cease as of the date of expiration o fhte agreement(s), regardless of whether a successor collective bargaining agreement has been approved.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.