SECTION 10E. Insurance for commonwealth employee granted leave to care for dependent child

The health and insurance benefits including, without limitation, policies of group life insurance group accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and the group general or blanket hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance as provided in this chapter for an employee of the commonwealth shall be continued for such employee for any period for which such employee is granted leave by his employer for the purpose of caring for such employee's minor dependent child under three years of age; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the employee shall make payment of the portion of the total monthly premium or rate that would have otherwise been deducted from his salary, wages or other compensation had such employee not taken such leave, and the commonwealth shall contribute the remaining amount of any such premium cost. For the purposes of this section, ''dependent child'' shall mean any child, whether natural, adoptive or a stepchild, of any such employee.