(a)      This section applies to employees of the Maryland Environmental Service and Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority.

      (b)      Subject to the regulations adopted under § 2-503 of this subtitle, an employee or, while receiving an allowance under the Employees' Retirement System of the State of Maryland or the Employees' Pension System of the State of Maryland, an employee's surviving spouse:

            (1)      may enroll and participate in the health insurance or other benefit options established under the Program; and

            (2)      except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, is subject to the same terms and conditions as those provided under § 2-507 of this subtitle.

      (c)      While receiving an allowance under the Employees' Retirement System of the State of Maryland or the Employees' Pension System of the State of Maryland, a former employee or a former employee's surviving spouse or dependent child:

            (1)      may enroll and participate in the health insurance benefit options established under the Program; and

            (2)      except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, is subject to the same terms and conditions as those provided under § 2-508 of this subtitle, with the employee's service with the Maryland Environmental Service and Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority being included as part of the employee's State service.

      (d)      For each participant under this section, the Maryland Environmental Service, and the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority or any successor agency, shall pay to the State the respective employer share of the cost of the Program based on the State subsidy allowed under this subtitle.