(a) Any nonstate public employer that is eligible to seek coverage under the state employee plan or a plan developed by the Comptroller pursuant to subsection (a) of § 3-123sss for its nonstate public employees may seek such coverage for such nonstate public employer’s retirees in accordance with this section. Premium payments for such coverage shall be remitted by the nonstate public employer to the Comptroller and shall be the same as those paid by the state, inclusive of any premiums paid by retired state employees.

(b) (1) If a nonstate public employer seeks coverage for all of its retirees in accordance with this section and all of the nonstate public employees employed by such nonstate public employer in accordance with § 3-123sss, the Comptroller shall accept such application upon the terms and conditions applicable to the state employee plan or plan developed by the Comptroller pursuant to subsection (a) of § 3-123sss and shall provide coverage not later than the first day of the third calendar month following such application.

(2) If a nonstate public employer seeks coverage for fewer than all of its retirees, regardless of whether such nonstate public employer is seeking coverage for all of the nonstate public employees employed by such nonstate public employer, the Comptroller shall forward such application to the Health Care Cost Containment Committee not later than five business days after receiving such application. Said committee may, not later than thirty days after receiving such application, certify to the Comptroller that, with respect to such retirees, the application will shift a significantly disproportional part of such nonstate public employer’s medical risks to the state employee plan.

(3) If the Health Care Cost Containment Committee certifies to the Comptroller that the application will shift a significantly disproportional part of a nonstate public employer’s medical risks to the state employee plan, the Comptroller shall not provide coverage to such nonstate public employer’s retirees. If the Health Care Cost Containment Committee does not certify to the Comptroller that the application will shift a significantly disproportional part of a nonstate public employer’s medical risks to the state employee plan, the Comptroller shall provide coverage not later than the first day of the third calendar month following the deadline for receiving the certification.

(c) Nothing in sections 3-123rrr to 3-123vvv, inclusive, shall diminish any right to retiree health insurance pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or to any other provision of the general statutes.