[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4857 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4857

 To make small business concerns eligible to participate in the health 
   benefits program under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 29, 1994

 Mr. Istook (for himself, Mr. Horn, Mr. Canady, Mr. Zimmer, Mr. Levy, 
  Mr. Upton, and Mr. McHale) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred jointly to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Post Office 
               and Civil Service, and Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To make small business concerns eligible to participate in the health 
   benefits program under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purpose of this Act--
            (1) the term ``FEHBP'' means the health benefits program 
        under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code;
            (2) the term ``small business concern'' means an employer 
        with 100 or fewer employees, as further defined under 
        regulations of the Director; and
            (3) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office 
        of Personnel Management.

SEC. 2. PROVISIONS RELATING TO SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

    (a) Eligibility.--Eligibility to participate in FEHBP shall be 
afforded to employees of small business concerns in accordance with the 
plan prescribed under subsection (b).
    (b) Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Director shall, after 
        consultation with appropriate experts, representatives, and 
        officials, transmit to the Congress--
                    (A) a comprehensive plan providing for the orderly 
                transition of FEHBP in order to carry out the purpose 
                of this section, including a timetable under which such 
                transition shall be completed not later than 2 years 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) recommendations for any legislation which the 
                Director considers necessary in order to carry out the 
                plan described in subparagraph (A), including 
                recommendations for the repeal or modification of 
                appropriate provisions of law.
            (2) Intermediary groups; administrative costs.--The plan 
        shall include provisions under which--
                    (A) small business concerns with 50 or fewer 
                employees shall be required to form groups of at least 
                50 employees as a condition for eligibility; and
                    (B) any additional administrative expenses 
                resulting from the implementation of the plan shall be 
                borne by small business concerns and their employees.
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