A bill protecting health insurance coverage for school district retirees has been renewed by the governor and legislature.
Since 1994, school district retirees have been protected from unilateral reduction in health care coverage. The law (provisions of Chapter 729 of the Laws of 1994) provides that school districts may reduce neither the level of health insurance coverage nor their contribution toward its cost for retirees, unless the reduction applies equally to active employees. This protects retirees by making them part of the collective bargaining process.
The law will be extended until May 15, 2008, however it is subject to annual renewal.