Section 8 of Chapter 32A of the general laws is hereby amended by striking the first paragraph and inserting the following section: -

Section 8. For policies of group life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and group health insurance purchased by the commission in accordance with the provisions of sections four, five and ten C, the commonwealth, on behalf of active and retired employees and their dependents, shall contribute no less than eighty per cent of the total monthly premium or rate applicable to said coverages and the active and retired employees on behalf of themselves or themselves and their dependents shall contribute the remaining twenty-five per cent of the total monthly premium or rate, except, that upon approval by way of an annual, or more frequent appropriation act, the commonwealth may contribute more than eighty per cent but less than the entire total monthly premium or rate. Each appropriation act as may be applicable, shall provide the necessary sum based upon the estimated monthly cost as required by section four and shall describe the ratio of contribution to be paid by the commonwealth and by the active and retired employees insured under the aforesaid sections. The description of the ratio may include a condition that if, as a result of a change in the total monthly premium or rate which occurs during the current or ensuing fiscal year from a change in a contract between the commission and the insurance carrier or carriers, the amount of the contribution paid by the active and retired employee and dependents is to remain unchanged and the difference in the amount thus paid and the total monthly premium or rate as changed is to be added to, or deducted from as the case may be, the contribution by the commonwealth. The aforesaid ratio shall continue until changed by a subsequent appropriation act and the aforesaid sum shall also include the commonwealth's contribution of the total monthly premium or rate required for coverages contained in other sections of this chapter as such contribution is provided in said sections.