Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any employee who retired or will retire from the service of the town of Plymouth after February 26, 1998 and is enrolled in a health or dental plan offered by the town as of July 1, 2003 or at least 5 years before their retirement, their spouse and dependents shall be entitled to receive the same percentage of premium contribution provided by the town on the date of hire of the employee, but no greater than 90 per cent, for so long as the retiree remains continuously enrolled in the benefit plan, notwithstanding any alteration in health plan premiums by the town.

SECTION 2. This act shall apply to all non-union employees who are eligible for health insurance benefits and to employee groups who agree, within 60 days of the effective date of this act, to an increase in the percentage paid by active employees to 20 per cent effective July 1, 2003. This act shall also apply to any employee who is enrolled in a health or dental plan offered by said town and retired from the service of the town after February 26, 1998 but before July 1, 2003.

SECTION 3. Employee groups that do not agree, within 60 days of the effective date of this act, to an increase in the percentage paid by active employees to 20 per cent effective on July 1, 2003 shall not be guaranteed the rate of hire percentage contribution upon retirement.

SECTION 4. If the commonwealth mandates an increase in the minimum percentage contribution active employees only shall pay toward their health insurance, the provisions of this act governing the percentages to be paid by retires shall not be affected.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.