The Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) is an independent public agency of the State of Maine that traces
its history to 1942. By the authority granted to it by the Maine Legislature, the System administers seven defined benefit retirement
programs that cover State employees, the State's public school teachers, judges, legislators, and employees of the 316 municipalities
and other public entities, called "participating local districts" (PLDs) that have chosen to provide retirement plans to their employees
through MainePERS. The System is also responsible for the payment of retirement and survivors' benefits to former governors and
their surviving spouses and to former judges who retired prior to the establishment of the Judicial Retirement Program in 1984 and
their surviving spouses. In addition, the System administers a Group Life Insurance Program that provides or makes available life
insurance benefits for active and retired State employees and teachers, judges, and legislators as well as employees of those PLDs
who have chosen to offer the Group Life Insurance Program. The System also administers defined contribution plans for eligible
employers who choose to participate in the plans.