A retiree may elect to have the Board of Trustees deduct from the retiree’s allowance and pay for the retiree: dues for an employee organization; payments to the State Employees’ Credit Union of Maryland, Inc.; all or part of a premium for: insurance offered through an employee organization; or State-approved medical insurance for retirees; or any other deduction that the Board of Trustees allows by regulation, in the interest of members or retirees. A retiree who participates in medical insurance offered through a county may elect to have the Board of Trustees deduct from the retiree’s allowance and pay to the county all or part of the premium for locally approved medical insurance. Except for payments in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection, the State system or any unit of the State is not responsible for paying for medical insurance offered through a county.

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may not attach, execute, garnish, or otherwise seize any current or future benefit under this Division II or any money in a fund created under this Division II. In accordance with regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees, a court of competent jurisdiction may expressly order that a benefit under this Division II be assigned in a decree or order of alimony, child support, or divorce, or in a court–approved property settlement incident to a court decree or order. A court of competent jurisdiction may expressly order that a benefit under this Division II be assigned to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent when an order of benefit forfeiture is issued in accordance with § 21–704 of this title. An assignment under this section only applies to benefits paid after the Board of Trustees receives: written notice of the court decree or order; and any additional information that the Board of Trustees requires. The Board of Trustees is not liable for an improper payment to a person because the Board of Trustees did not receive written notice of a court decree or order.

The Board of Trustees shall offer counseling about retirement benefits: to the members, former members, and retirees of each State system; and if a member, former member, or retiree consents, to an immediate family member.

This section applies only to the: Employees’ Pension System; Employees’ Retirement System; Teachers’ Pension System; and Teachers’ Retirement System. The Board of Trustees shall adopt regulations to allow a public employee organization to obtain, for a reasonable fee, each year: the name and last known address of each individual during the last year who became a retiree or commenced receiving a vested allowance; the name and last known address of each retiree or former member receiving a vested allowance who died in the last year; and any change in address in the last year of a retiree or former member receiving a vested allowance. Except as provided in § 21–128 of this title, before the release of a name, the Board of Trustees shall notify the individual of the provisions of this section. If an individual notifies the Board of Trustees that the individual does not want the individual’s name or address released to an employee organization, the Board of Trustees may not release the name or address. An employee organization may not release any information that it receives under this section.

The Board of Trustees and the State Board of Trustees of the Maryland State Employees Supplemental Retirement Plans shall exchange information about participating employees of the optional defined contribution system as necessary to administer the system.

This section applies to a former member, retiree, or a beneficiary of a deceased former member or retiree of a State system who: is entitled to a refund of accumulated contributions and has made no claim for those contributions; or is currently eligible to receive a vested allowance and has not filed an application for the vested allowance. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Retirement Agency may post the names of the individuals described in subsection (a) of this section and the names of the last participating employer of the former members or retirees on the State Retirement Agency’s website or otherwise publish the names of the individuals and employers for the purpose of notifying the individuals that they have unclaimed money held by the State Retirement Agency.