Sec. 79.
(1) A former qualified participant may elect health insurance benefits in the manner prescribed in this section if he or she meets both of the following requirements:
(a) The former qualified participant is vested in health benefits under section 75(2).
(b) The former qualified participant meets 1 of the following requirements:
(i) He or she meets or exceeds the benefit commencement age employed in the actuarial present value calculation under section 62 and the service requirements that would have applied to that former participant under Tier 1 for receiving health insurance coverage under section 50b, if that former participant was a member of Tier 1.
(ii) He or she is 55 years of age or older.
(2) A former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) may elect health insurance coverage in a health benefit plan or plans as authorized by section 50b. A former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) may also elect health insurance coverage for his or her health benefit dependents, if any. A surviving health benefit dependent of a deceased former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) may elect health insurance coverage to begin at the death of the deceased former qualified participant in the manner prescribed in this section.
(3) An individual who elects health insurance coverage under this section shall become a member of a health insurance coverage group authorized pursuant to section 50b.
(4) For a former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) and who is vested in those benefits under section 75(2)(a) or (c), and for his or her health benefit dependents, this state shall pay a portion of the health insurance premium as calculated under this subsection on a cash disbursement method. An individual described in this subsection who elects health insurance coverage under this section shall pay to the retirement system the remaining portion of the health insurance coverage premium not paid by this state under this subsection. The portion of the health insurance coverage premium paid by this state under this subsection shall be 90% of the payments for health insurance coverage under section 50b. If the individual elects the health insurance coverage provided under section 50b, this state shall transfer its portion of the amount calculated under this subsection to the health insurance fund created by section 22c.
(5) For a former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) and who is vested in those benefits under section 75(2)(b), and for his or her health benefit dependents, this state shall pay a portion of the health insurance premium as calculated under this subsection on a cash disbursement method. An individual described in this subsection who elects health insurance coverage under this section shall pay to the retirement system the remaining portion of the health insurance coverage premium not paid by this state under this subsection. The portion of the health insurance coverage premium paid by this state under this subsection shall be equal to the premium amounts paid on behalf of retirants of Tier 1 for health insurance coverage under section 50b. If the individual elects the health insurance coverage provided under section 50b, the state shall transfer its portion of the amount calculated under this subsection to the health insurance fund created by section 22c.
(6) If the department of technology, management, and budget receives notification from the United States internal revenue service that this section or any portion of this section will cause the retirement system to be disqualified for tax purposes under the internal revenue code, then the portion that will cause the disqualification does not apply.
(7) A former qualified participant who does not meet the vesting requirements of section 75(2) is not eligible for health insurance benefits under this act.
History: Add. 1996, Act 486, Eff. Mar. 31, 1997 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 501, Imd. Eff. Jan. 5, 1999 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 614, Imd. Eff. Jan. 3, 2007 ;-- Am. 2011, Act 200, Imd. Eff. Oct. 18, 2011 Compiler's Notes: Section 2 of Act 486 of 1996 provides:“Section 2. If any section or part of a section of this act is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the holding does not affect the validity of the remaining sections of this act or the act in its entirety.
Structure Michigan Compiled Laws
Chapter 38 - Civil Service and Retirement
Act 261 of 1957 - Michigan Legislative Retirement System Act (38.1001 - 38.1080)
Section 38.1001 - Retirement System; Creation.
Section 38.1002 - Michigan Legislative Retirement System; Name.
Section 38.1003 - Construction of Terms.
Section 38.1004 - “Retirement System” Defined.
Section 38.1005 - Board; Definition.
Section 38.1006 - “Member” Defined.
Section 38.1007 - Repealed. 1981, Act 123, Imd. Eff. July 23, 1981.
Section 38.1007a - “Direct Rollover” and “Distributee” Defined.
Section 38.1008 - Repealed. 1981, Act 123, Imd. Eff. July 23, 1981.
Section 38.1008a - Definitions.
Section 38.1009 - “Salary” Defined.
Section 38.1010 - Repealed. 1981, Act 123, Imd. Eff. July 23, 1981.
Section 38.1012 - “Retirement Allowance” Defined.
Section 38.1013 - “Retirant” Defined.
Section 38.1013a - “Survivor,”“eligible Child,” and “Surviving Spouse” Defined.
Section 38.1014 - “Refund Beneficiary” Defined.
Section 38.1015 - Actuarial Tables; Definition.
Section 38.1016 - Prescribed Rate of Interest; Definition.
Section 38.1017 - “Fiscal Year” Defined.
Section 38.1017a - “Deferred Vested Member” Defined.
Section 38.1017b - “Leadership Position” Defined.
Section 38.1017c - “Legislator” Defined.
Section 38.1017d - “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” Defined.
Section 38.1019 - Repealed. 1981, Act 123, Imd. Eff. July 23, 1981.
Section 38.1021a - Member Contributions Picked Up by State.
Section 38.1022a - Income Fund; Creation; Purpose; Interest, Dividends, and Other Income; Expenses.
Section 38.1022b - Prorating and Allocating Annual Appropriations to Retirement System.
Section 38.1023a - Repealed. 1974, Act 215, Eff. Dec. 31, 1974.
Section 38.1023c - Increase of Retirement Allowance.
Section 38.1023d - Disabled Member; Retirement Allowance; Annual Examination.
Section 38.1024a - Remarriage of Surviving Spouse.
Section 38.1027 - First Board of Trustees; Organizational Meeting, Election of Officers.
Section 38.1028 - Vacancy in Trusteeship.
Section 38.1029 - Trustees; Compensation and Expenses.
Section 38.1030 - Board of Trustees; Quorum, Proxy.
Section 38.1031 - Board of Trustees; Powers and Duties.
Section 38.1033 - Board of Trustees; Authority as to Retirement Allowances, Suspensions and Refunds.
Section 38.1035 - Board of Trustees; Estimate of Appropriation.
Section 38.1036 - Repealed. 1987, Act 58, Imd. Eff. June 23, 1987.
Section 38.1036a - Reinstatement of Suspended Contributions.
Section 38.1037 - Repealed. 1981, Act 123, Imd. Eff. July 23, 1981.
Section 38.1039 - Board of Trustees; Appointment of Secretary and Administrative Personnel.
Section 38.1040 - Board of Trustees; Record of Proceedings; Individual Accounts; Actuarial Data.
Section 38.1041 - Board of Trustees; Audit of Accounts; Annual Statement.
Section 38.1042 - Acceptance of Gift, Grant, or Bequest by Board.
Section 38.1043 - Individual Statement.
Section 38.1044 - Rules and Bylaws.
Section 38.1045 - Secretary of Board; Powers and Duties.
Section 38.1046 - Actuary; Technical Advisor of Board, Powers and Duties.
Section 38.1047 - State Treasurer as Ex Officio Treasurer of Retirement System; Duties.
Section 38.1049 - Payroll Voucher.
Section 38.1050 - Investment and Reinvestment of Cash Assets; Nonapplicability to Tier 2.
Section 38.1053 - Vested Interest in Refunds; Payment of Member Contributions; Discharge of Claims.
Section 38.1054 - Payments as Obligations of State; Disposition of Revenues.
Section 38.1056 - Undivided Interest in Assets of System.
Section 38.1058 - Retirement System Records; Falsification, Penalty.
Section 38.1058a - Correction of Error; Adjustment of Payment.
Section 38.1059 - Payment of Benefits; Commencement.
Section 38.1060 - Short Title.
Section 38.1064 - Meanings of Words and Phrases; “Accumulated Balance” Defined.
Section 38.1065 - “Employer,”“former Qualified Participant,” and “Health Benefit Dependent” Defined.
Section 38.1066 - “Qualified Participant,”“refund Beneficiary,” and “State Treasurer” Defined.
Section 38.1070 - Tier 2; Payment of Administrative Expenses.
Section 38.1071 - Participation in Other Public Sector Retirement Benefits Plan.
Section 38.1076 - Crediting Years of Accrued Service.
Section 38.1077 - Refund Beneficiary; Nomination.
Section 38.1078 - Distribution of Accumulated Balance.
Section 38.1079 - Health Insurance Coverage; Election; Eligibility.