S. 545 (108th): Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003

Introduced:
Mar 06, 2003 (108th Congress, 2003–2004)
Sponsor:
Sen. Olympia Snowe [R-ME]
Status:
Died (Referred to Committee)
See Instead:
This bill was re-introduced as S. 406 (109th) on Feb 16, 2005.

The bill’s title was written by the bill’s sponsor. S. stands for Senate bill.

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Status

This bill was introduced on March 6, 2003, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted.

Progress
Introduced Mar 06, 2003
Referred to Committee Mar 06, 2003
Cosponsors
8 cosponsors (7R, 1D) (show)
Committees

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

The committee chair determines whether a bill will move past the committee stage.

Full Title

A bill to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees.

Summary

No summaries available.

Text

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Last updated Mar 06, 2003.
70 pages

Primary Source

View on THOMAS (The Library of Congress)

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GovTrack’s Bill Summary

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Library of Congress Summary

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.

3/6/2003--Introduced.
Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise provisions relating to access and choice for small business employers with respect to medical care for their employees.
Establishes rules governing association health plans (group health plans whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations), including requirements relating to certification, sponsors and boards of trustees, participation, coverage, plan documents, contribution rates, benefit options, applications for certification, notice for voluntary termination, corrective actions, and mandatory termination.
Requires association health plans which provide health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage to maintain certain reserves and comply with other solvency provisions. Directs the Secretary of Labor to apply for appointment, and carry out specified duties, as trustee of any such insolvent association health plans which provide health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage.
Allows a State to impose a contribution tax on any association health plan commencing operations in such State after the enactment of this Act.
Requires association health plans to include in their summary plan descriptions, in connection with each benefit option, a description of the form of any solvency or guarantee fund protection secured under ERISA or applicable State law.
Revises provisions relating to treatment of: (1) single employer arrangements; and (2) certain collectively bargained arrangements.
Provides for association health plans with respect to: (1) enforcement; (2) cooperation between Federal and State authorities; and (3) treatment of certain existing health benefit programs.

House Republican Conference Summary

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No summary available.

House Democratic Caucus Summary

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The bill contains the following citations to other parts of U.S. law:

United States Code

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