Section 131-P. Group health insurance benefits; condition of eligibility

Notwithstanding any other inconsistent  provision  of  law  and  to  the
  extent  permissible under federal law, any applicant for or recipient of
  safety net assistance or family assistance who is  or  becomes  employed
  and whose   employer provides group health insurance benefits, including
  benefits  for  a  spouse  and  dependent  children  of such applicant or
  recipient, shall apply for and utilize such benefits as a  condition  of
  eligibility  for  safety  net  assistance  or  family assistance.   Such
  applicant or recipient shall also  utilize  such  benefits  provided  by
  former  employers as long as such benefits are available. The department
  shall promulgate regulations to determine the  eligibility  requirements
  of  those  applicants  and  recipients  who  have more than one employer
  offering group health insurance benefits.
    The provisions of this section shall apply  to  such  applicants  upon
  their   initial  certification  for  family  assistance  or  safety  net
  assistance and to such recipients upon their recertifications  for  such
  assistance  following  the date on which this section becomes effective.
  The cost of premiums paid by such  applicants  or  recipients  for  such
  coverage shall be deducted from such applicant's or recipient's earnings
  as an expense incident to his or her employment.