An Act To Include Certain Mental Health Workers Under The 1998 Special Plan For Retirement

This bill allows certain mental health workers in Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to join a special retirement plan that offers better benefits than the standard state plan. To make this change possible, the legislation authorizes specific funding to cover the costs of these new retirement benefits for the fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25. The funds are allocated across various accounts, including the General Fund and Other Special Revenue Funds, to support employees working in community-based settings, residential facilities, and psychiatric centers. Additionally, the bill provides a one-time payment to the state retirement system to cover the increased financial liability created by enrolling these workers in the special plan.