Senate enacts Libby bill to strengthen health insurance and retirement fund for firefighters and law enforcement officers

Legislation from Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, to strengthen the Retired County and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and Municipal Firefighters Health Insurance Program was passed by the Maine Senate on Wednesday in a unanimous vote.

“Improving upon this already established health insurance program is an important step in ensuring that our firefighters and law enforcement officers get the benefits they deserve in exchange for all that they give of themselves for our communities,” said Sen. Libby. “LD 1674 makes those improvements.”

LD 1674, “An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning the Retired County and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and Municipal Firefighters Health Insurance Program,” makes amendments to the program to ensure earned benefits are accrued and disbursed fairly.

Health care and retirement benefits are an important part of attracting and retaining local public safety professionals.

Paul Gaspar, executive director of the Maine Association of Police, was involved in the original setup of the fund. He spoke at a recent public hearing on LD 1674 and a companion bill, saying that “LDs 1664 and 1674 represent that continued stewardship, along with the program administrators, to improve and allow the program to continue to be successful for future first responders.”

Speaking to the success of the program and its intent, Ronnie Green, of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine, said, “it has done what it was intended to do, which is give a little bit of help to law enforcement officers and firefighters with health insurance in retirement so they are not stuck working well beyond their retirement age just so they would have health insurance.”

LD 1674 now goes to Gov. Janet Mills, who has 10 days to sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without her signature.