[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 525 Reported in House (RH)]






                                                  Union Calendar No. 22
109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 525

                          [Report No. 109-41]

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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 2005

Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas (for himself, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Boehner, Mr. 
 Wynn, Mr. Kennedy of Minnesota, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Bradley of New 
  Hampshire, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Platts, Mr. Carter, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. 
 Shays, Mr. Davis of Tennessee, Mrs. Bono, Mr. Graves, Mrs. Miller of 
Michigan, Mr. Tiberi, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Thornberry, Mr. 
Gillmor, Mr. Bonilla, Mr. McHenry, Mr. Akin, Mr. McHugh, Mr. Marchant, 
 Mr. Fortuno, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mrs. Cubin, Mr. Cox, Mr. Neugebauer, 
  Mr. Peterson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
Cooper, Mr. Petri, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Shadegg, Mr. Manzullo, Mr. McCaul 
 of Texas, Mr. Weller, Mr. Jindal, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Cantor, Mr. Gerlach, 
Mr. Culberson, Mr. King of Iowa, Mrs. Drake, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Kline, Mr. 
Cunningham, Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin, Mrs. Emerson, Ms. Pryce 
    of Ohio, and Mr. Case) introduced the following bill; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

                             April 13, 2005

    Additional sponsors: Mr. Doolittle, Mr. Herger, Mr. English of 
 Pennsylvania, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mrs. Northup, 
   Mr. Pence, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Jones of North 
Carolina, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Rogers of Michigan, Mrs. Musgrave, Mr. Garrett 
   of New Jersey, Mr. McKeon, Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida, Ms. 
  Bordallo, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Keller, Mr. Gary G. Miller of 
    California, Mr. Flake, Mr. Murphy, Mr. LaHood, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. 
  Tancredo, Mr. Hostettler, Mr. Sodrel, Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, Mr. 
   Rogers of Kentucky, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Hefley, Mr. Hensarling, Mr. 
 Radanovich, Mr. Everett, Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Conaway, Mr. 
    Blunt, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Barrett of South 
 Carolina, Mr. Boustany, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Kolbe, Mr. Oxley, 
Mr. Chocola, Mr. Feeney, Mr. Turner, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Cole of Oklahoma, 
 Ms. Hart, Mr. DeLay, Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Shuster, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr. 
Aderholt, Mr. Bonner, Mr. Hall, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Fossella, Mr. Weldon of 
   Florida, Mr. Stearns, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Rehberg, Mr. Hobson, Mr. 
Gallegly, Mr. Beauprez, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Cannon, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Mack, Mr. 
Barton of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Illinois, Mr. Latham, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. 
Calvert, Mr. Gutknecht, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Ms. Lee, Mr. 
                    Smith of Texas, and Mr. Burgess
Deleted sponsors: Mr. Meeks of New York (added March 15, 2005; deleted 
March 16, 2005) and Mr. Towns (added April 12, 2005; deleted April 13, 
                                 2005)

                             April 13, 2005

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
                       and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business 
Health Fairness Act of 2005''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Rules governing association health plans.
Sec. 3. Clarification of treatment of single employer arrangements.
Sec. 4. Enforcement provisions relating to association health plans.
Sec. 5. Cooperation between Federal and State authorities.
Sec. 6. Effective date and transitional and other rules.

SEC. 2. RULES GOVERNING ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle B of title I of the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974 is amended by adding after part 7 the 
following new part:

           ``PART 8--RULES GOVERNING ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS

``SEC. 801. ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS.

    ``(a) In General.--For purposes of this part, the term `association 
health plan' means a group health plan whose sponsor is (or is deemed 
under this part to be) described in subsection (b).
    ``(b) Sponsorship.--The sponsor of a group health plan is described 
in this subsection if such sponsor--
            ``(1) is organized and maintained in good faith, with a 
        constitution and bylaws specifically stating its purpose and 
        providing for periodic meetings on at least an annual basis, as 
        a bona fide trade association, a bona fide industry association 
        (including a rural electric cooperative association or a rural 
        telephone cooperative association), a bona fide professional 
        association, or a bona fide chamber of commerce (or similar 
        bona fide business association, including a corporation or 
        similar organization that operates on a cooperative basis 
        (within the meaning of section 1381 of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986)), for substantial purposes other than that of 
        obtaining or providing medical care;
            ``(2) is established as a permanent entity which receives 
        the active support of its members and requires for membership 
        payment on a periodic basis of dues or payments necessary to 
        maintain eligibility for membership in the sponsor; and
            ``(3) does not condition membership, such dues or payments, 
        or coverage under the plan on the basis of health status-
        related factors with respect to the employees of its members 
        (or affiliated members), or the dependents of such employees, 
        and does not condition such dues or payments on the basis of 
        group health plan participation.
Any sponsor consisting of an association of entities which meet the 
requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall be deemed to be a 
sponsor described in this subsection.

``SEC. 802. CERTIFICATION OF ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS.

    ``(a) In General.--The applicable authority shall prescribe by 
regulation a procedure under which, subject to subsection (b), the 
applicable authority shall certify association health plans which apply 
for certification as meeting the requirements of this part.
    ``(b) Standards.--Under the procedure prescribed pursuant to 
subsection (a), in the case of an association health plan that provides 
at least one benefit option which does not consist of health insurance 
coverage, the applicable authority shall certify such plan as meeting 
the requirements of this part only if the applicable authority is 
satisfied that the applicable requirements of this part are met (or, 
upon the date on which the plan is to commence operations, will be met) 
with respect to the plan.
    ``(c) Requirements Applicable to Certified Plans.--An association 
health plan with respect to which certification under this part is in 
effect shall meet the applicable requirements of this part, effective 
on the date of certification (or, if later, on the date on which the 
plan is to commence operations).
    ``(d) Requirements for Continued Certification.--The applicable 
authority may provide by regulation for continued certification of 
association health plans under this part.
    ``(e) Class Certification for Fully Insured Plans.--The applicable 
authority shall establish a class certification procedure for 
association health plans under which all benefits consist of health 
insurance coverage. Under such procedure, the applicable authority 
shall provide for the granting of certification under this part to the 
plans in each class of such association health plans upon appropriate 
filing under such procedure in connection with plans in such class and 
payment of the prescribed fee under section 807(a).
    ``(f) Certification of Self-Insured Association Health Plans.--An 
association health plan which offers one or more benefit options which 
do not consist of health insurance coverage may be certified under this 
part only if such plan consists of any of the following:
            ``(1) a plan which offered such coverage on the date of the 
        enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005,
            ``(2) a plan under which the sponsor does not restrict 
        membership to one or more trades and businesses or industries 
        and whose eligible participating employers represent a broad 
        cross-section of trades and businesses or industries, or
            ``(3) a plan whose eligible participating employers 
        represent one or more trades or businesses, or one or more 
        industries, consisting of any of the following: agriculture; 
        equipment and automobile dealerships; barbering and 
        cosmetology; certified public accounting practices; child care; 
        construction; dance, theatrical and orchestra productions; 
        disinfecting and pest control; financial services; fishing; 
        foodservice establishments; hospitals; labor organizations; 
        logging; manufacturing (metals); mining; medical and dental 
        practices; medical laboratories; professional consulting 
        services; sanitary services; transportation (local and 
        freight); warehousing; wholesaling/distributing; or any other 
        trade or business or industry which has been indicated as 
        having average or above-average risk or health claims 
        experience by reason of State rate filings, denials of 
        coverage, proposed premium rate levels, or other means 
        demonstrated by such plan in accordance with regulations.

``SEC. 803. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO SPONSORS AND BOARDS OF TRUSTEES.

    ``(a) Sponsor.--The requirements of this subsection are met with 
respect to an association health plan if the sponsor has met (or is 
deemed under this part to have met) the requirements of section 801(b) 
for a continuous period of not less than 3 years ending with the date 
of the application for certification under this part.
    ``(b) Board of Trustees.--The requirements of this subsection are 
met with respect to an association health plan if the following 
requirements are met:
            ``(1) Fiscal control.--The plan is operated, pursuant to a 
        trust agreement, by a board of trustees which has complete 
        fiscal control over the plan and which is responsible for all 
        operations of the plan.
            ``(2) Rules of operation and financial controls.--The board 
        of trustees has in effect rules of operation and financial 
        controls, based on a 3-year plan of operation, adequate to 
        carry out the terms of the plan and to meet all requirements of 
        this title applicable to the plan.
            ``(3) Rules governing relationship to participating 
        employers and to contractors.--
                    ``(A) Board membership.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in 
                        clauses (ii) and (iii), the members of the 
                        board of trustees are individuals selected from 
                        individuals who are the owners, officers, 
                        directors, or employees of the participating 
                        employers or who are partners in the 
                        participating employers and actively 
                        participate in the business.
                            ``(ii) Limitation.--
                                    ``(I) General rule.--Except as 
                                provided in subclauses (II) and (III), 
                                no such member is an owner, officer, 
                                director, or employee of, or partner 
                                in, a contract administrator or other 
                                service provider to the plan.
                                    ``(II) Limited exception for 
                                providers of services solely on behalf 
                                of the sponsor.--Officers or employees 
                                of a sponsor which is a service 
                                provider (other than a contract 
                                administrator) to the plan may be 
                                members of the board if they constitute 
                                not more than 25 percent of the 
                                membership of the board and they do not 
                                provide services to the plan other than 
                                on behalf of the sponsor.
                                    ``(III) Treatment of providers of 
                                medical care.--In the case of a sponsor 
                                which is an association whose 
                                membership consists primarily of 
                                providers of medical care, subclause 
                                (I) shall not apply in the case of any 
                                service provider described in subclause 
                                (I) who is a provider of medical care 
                                under the plan.
                            ``(iii) Certain plans excluded.--Clause (i) 
                        shall not apply to an association health plan 
                        which is in existence on the date of the 
                        enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness 
                        Act of 2005.
                    ``(B) Sole authority.--The board has sole authority 
                under the plan to approve applications for 
                participation in the plan and to contract with a 
                service provider to administer the day-to-day affairs 
                of the plan.
    ``(c) Treatment of Franchise Networks.--In the case of a group 
health plan which is established and maintained by a franchiser for a 
franchise network consisting of its franchisees--
            ``(1) the requirements of subsection (a) and section 801(a) 
        shall be deemed met if such requirements would otherwise be met 
        if the franchiser were deemed to be the sponsor referred to in 
        section 801(b), such network were deemed to be an association 
        described in section 801(b), and each franchisee were deemed to 
        be a member (of the association and the sponsor) referred to in 
        section 801(b); and
            ``(2) the requirements of section 804(a)(1) shall be deemed 
        met.
The Secretary may by regulation define for purposes of this subsection 
the terms `franchiser', `franchise network', and `franchisee'.

``SEC. 804. PARTICIPATION AND COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Covered Employers and Individuals.--The requirements of this 
subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if, under 
the terms of the plan--
            ``(1) each participating employer must be--
                    ``(A) a member of the sponsor,
                    ``(B) the sponsor, or
                    ``(C) an affiliated member of the sponsor with 
                respect to which the requirements of subsection (b) are 
                met,
        except that, in the case of a sponsor which is a professional 
        association or other individual-based association, if at least 
        one of the officers, directors, or employees of an employer, or 
        at least one of the individuals who are partners in an employer 
        and who actively participates in the business, is a member or 
        such an affiliated member of the sponsor, participating 
        employers may also include such employer; and
            ``(2) all individuals commencing coverage under the plan 
        after certification under this part must be--
                    ``(A) active or retired owners (including self-
                employed individuals), officers, directors, or 
                employees of, or partners in, participating employers; 
                or
                    ``(B) the beneficiaries of individuals described in 
                subparagraph (A).
    ``(b) Coverage of Previously Uninsured Employees.--In the case of 
an association health plan in existence on the date of the enactment of 
the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005, an affiliated member of 
the sponsor of the plan may be offered coverage under the plan as a 
participating employer only if--
            ``(1) the affiliated member was an affiliated member on the 
        date of certification under this part; or
            ``(2) during the 12-month period preceding the date of the 
        offering of such coverage, the affiliated member has not 
        maintained or contributed to a group health plan with respect 
        to any of its employees who would otherwise be eligible to 
        participate in such association health plan.
    ``(c) Individual Market Unaffected.--The requirements of this 
subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if, under 
the terms of the plan, no participating employer may provide health 
insurance coverage in the individual market for any employee not 
covered under the plan which is similar to the coverage 
contemporaneously provided to employees of the employer under the plan, 
if such exclusion of the employee from coverage under the plan is based 
on a health status-related factor with respect to the employee and such 
employee would, but for such exclusion on such basis, be eligible for 
coverage under the plan.
    ``(d) Prohibition of Discrimination Against Employers and Employees 
Eligible to Participate.--The requirements of this subsection are met 
with respect to an association health plan if--
            ``(1) under the terms of the plan, all employers meeting 
        the preceding requirements of this section are eligible to 
        qualify as participating employers for all geographically 
        available coverage options, unless, in the case of any such 
        employer, participation or contribution requirements of the 
        type referred to in section 2711 of the Public Health Service 
        Act are not met;
            ``(2) upon request, any employer eligible to participate is 
        furnished information regarding all coverage options available 
        under the plan; and
            ``(3) the applicable requirements of sections 701, 702, and 
        703 are met with respect to the plan.

``SEC. 805. OTHER REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO PLAN DOCUMENTS, CONTRIBUTION 
              RATES, AND BENEFIT OPTIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--The requirements of this section are met with 
respect to an association health plan if the following requirements are 
met:
            ``(1) Contents of governing instruments.--The instruments 
        governing the plan include a written instrument, meeting the 
        requirements of an instrument required under section 402(a)(1), 
        which--
                    ``(A) provides that the board of trustees serves as 
                the named fiduciary required for plans under section 
                402(a)(1) and serves in the capacity of a plan 
                administrator (referred to in section 3(16)(A));
                    ``(B) provides that the sponsor of the plan is to 
                serve as plan sponsor (referred to in section 
                3(16)(B)); and
                    ``(C) incorporates the requirements of section 806.
            ``(2) Contribution rates must be nondiscriminatory.--
                    ``(A) The contribution rates for any participating 
                small employer do not vary on the basis of any health 
                status-related factor in relation to employees of such 
                employer or their beneficiaries and do not vary on the 
                basis of the type of business or industry in which such 
                employer is engaged.
                    ``(B) Nothing in this title or any other provision 
                of law shall be construed to preclude an association 
                health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering 
                health insurance coverage in connection with an 
                association health plan, from--
                            ``(i) setting contribution rates based on 
                        the claims experience of the plan; or
                            ``(ii) varying contribution rates for small 
                        employers in a State to the extent that such 
                        rates could vary using the same methodology 
                        employed in such State for regulating premium 
                        rates in the small group market with respect to 
                        health insurance coverage offered in connection 
                        with bona fide associations (within the meaning 
                        of section 2791(d)(3) of the Public Health 
                        Service Act),
                subject to the requirements of section 702(b) relating 
                to contribution rates.
            ``(3) Floor for number of covered individuals with respect 
        to certain plans.--If any benefit option under the plan does 
        not consist of health insurance coverage, the plan has as of 
        the beginning of the plan year not fewer than 1,000 
        participants and beneficiaries.
            ``(4) Marketing requirements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If a benefit option which 
                consists of health insurance coverage is offered under 
                the plan, State-licensed insurance agents shall be used 
                to distribute to small employers coverage which does 
                not consist of health insurance coverage in a manner 
                comparable to the manner in which such agents are used 
                to distribute health insurance coverage.
                    ``(B) State-licensed insurance agents.--For 
                purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `State-licensed 
                insurance agents' means one or more agents who are 
                licensed in a State and are subject to the laws of such 
                State relating to licensure, qualification, testing, 
                examination, and continuing education of persons 
                authorized to offer, sell, or solicit health insurance 
                coverage in such State.
            ``(5) Regulatory requirements.--Such other requirements as 
        the applicable authority determines are necessary to carry out 
        the purposes of this part, which shall be prescribed by the 
        applicable authority by regulation.
    ``(b) Ability of Association Health Plans to Design Benefit 
Options.--Subject to section 514(d), nothing in this part or any 
provision of State law (as defined in section 514(c)(1)) shall be 
construed to preclude an association health plan, or a health insurance 
issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with an 
association health plan, from exercising its sole discretion in 
selecting the specific items and services consisting of medical care to 
be included as benefits under such plan or coverage, except (subject to 
section 514) in the case of (1) any law to the extent that it is not 
preempted under section 731(a)(1) with respect to matters governed by 
section 711, 712, or 713, or (2) any law of the State with which filing 
and approval of a policy type offered by the plan was initially 
obtained to the extent that such law prohibits an exclusion of a 
specific disease from such coverage.

``SEC. 806. MAINTENANCE OF RESERVES AND PROVISIONS FOR SOLVENCY FOR 
              PLANS PROVIDING HEALTH BENEFITS IN ADDITION TO HEALTH 
              INSURANCE COVERAGE.

    ``(a) In General.--The requirements of this section are met with 
respect to an association health plan if--
            ``(1) the benefits under the plan consist solely of health 
        insurance coverage; or
            ``(2) if the plan provides any additional benefit options 
        which do not consist of health insurance coverage, the plan--
                    ``(A) establishes and maintains reserves with 
                respect to such additional benefit options, in amounts 
                recommended by the qualified actuary, consisting of--
                            ``(i) a reserve sufficient for unearned 
                        contributions;
                            ``(ii) a reserve sufficient for benefit 
                        liabilities which have been incurred, which 
                        have not been satisfied, and for which risk of 
                        loss has not yet been transferred, and for 
                        expected administrative costs with respect to 
                        such benefit liabilities;
                            ``(iii) a reserve sufficient for any other 
                        obligations of the plan; and
                            ``(iv) a reserve sufficient for a margin of 
                        error and other fluctuations, taking into 
                        account the specific circumstances of the plan; 
                        and
                    ``(B) establishes and maintains aggregate and 
                specific excess/stop loss insurance and solvency 
                indemnification, with respect to such additional 
                benefit options for which risk of loss has not yet been 
                transferred, as follows:
                            ``(i) The plan shall secure aggregate 
                        excess/stop loss insurance for the plan with an 
                        attachment point which is not greater than 125 
                        percent of expected gross annual claims. The 
                        applicable authority may by regulation provide 
                        for upward adjustments in the amount of such 
                        percentage in specified circumstances in which 
                        the plan specifically provides for and 
                        maintains reserves in excess of the amounts 
                        required under subparagraph (A).
                            ``(ii) The plan shall secure specific 
                        excess/stop loss insurance for the plan with an 
                        attachment point which is at least equal to an 
                        amount recommended by the plan's qualified 
                        actuary. The applicable authority may by 
                        regulation provide for adjustments in the 
                        amount of such insurance in specified 
                        circumstances in which the plan specifically 
                        provides for and maintains reserves in excess 
                        of the amounts required under subparagraph (A).
                            ``(iii) The plan shall secure 
                        indemnification insurance for any claims which 
                        the plan is unable to satisfy by reason of a 
                        plan termination.
Any person issuing to a plan insurance described in clause (i), (ii), 
or (iii) of subparagraph (B) shall notify the Secretary of any failure 
of premium payment meriting cancellation of the policy prior to 
undertaking such a cancellation. Any regulations prescribed by the 
applicable authority pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (B) 
may allow for such adjustments in the required levels of excess/stop 
loss insurance as the qualified actuary may recommend, taking into 
account the specific circumstances of the plan.
    ``(b) Minimum Surplus in Addition to Claims Reserves.--In the case 
of any association health plan described in subsection (a)(2), the 
requirements of this subsection are met if the plan establishes and 
maintains surplus in an amount at least equal to--
            ``(1) $500,000, or
            ``(2) such greater amount (but not greater than $2,000,000) 
        as may be set forth in regulations prescribed by the applicable 
        authority, considering the level of aggregate and specific 
        excess/stop loss insurance provided with respect to such plan 
        and other factors related to solvency risk, such as the plan's 
        projected levels of participation or claims, the nature of the 
        plan's liabilities, and the types of assets available to assure 
        that such liabilities are met.
    ``(c) Additional Requirements.--In the case of any association 
health plan described in subsection (a)(2), the applicable authority 
may provide such additional requirements relating to reserves, excess/
stop loss insurance, and indemnification insurance as the applicable 
authority considers appropriate. Such requirements may be provided by 
regulation with respect to any such plan or any class of such plans.
    ``(d) Adjustments for Excess/Stop Loss Insurance.--The applicable 
authority may provide for adjustments to the levels of reserves 
otherwise required under subsections (a) and (b) with respect to any 
plan or class of plans to take into account excess/stop loss insurance 
provided with respect to such plan or plans.
    ``(e) Alternative Means of Compliance.--The applicable authority 
may permit an association health plan described in subsection (a)(2) to 
substitute, for all or part of the requirements of this section (except 
subsection (a)(2)(B)(iii)), such security, guarantee, hold-harmless 
arrangement, or other financial arrangement as the applicable authority 
determines to be adequate to enable the plan to fully meet all its 
financial obligations on a timely basis and is otherwise no less 
protective of the interests of participants and beneficiaries than the 
requirements for which it is substituted. The applicable authority may 
take into account, for purposes of this subsection, evidence provided 
by the plan or sponsor which demonstrates an assumption of liability 
with respect to the plan. Such evidence may be in the form of a 
contract of indemnification, lien, bonding, insurance, letter of 
credit, recourse under applicable terms of the plan in the form of 
assessments of participating employers, security, or other financial 
arrangement.
    ``(f) Measures to Ensure Continued Payment of Benefits by Certain 
Plans in Distress.--
            ``(1) Payments by certain plans to association health plan 
        fund.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of an association 
                health plan described in subsection (a)(2), the 
                requirements of this subsection are met if the plan 
                makes payments into the Association Health Plan Fund 
                under this subparagraph when they are due. Such 
                payments shall consist of annual payments in the amount 
                of $5,000, and, in addition to such annual payments, 
                such supplemental payments as the Secretary may 
                determine to be necessary under paragraph (2). Payments 
                under this paragraph are payable to the Fund at the 
                time determined by the Secretary. Initial payments are 
                due in advance of certification under this part. 
                Payments shall continue to accrue until a plan's assets 
                are distributed pursuant to a termination procedure.
                    ``(B) Penalties for failure to make payments.--If 
                any payment is not made by a plan when it is due, a 
                late payment charge of not more than 100 percent of the 
                payment which was not timely paid shall be payable by 
                the plan to the Fund.
                    ``(C) Continued duty of the secretary.--The 
                Secretary shall not cease to carry out the provisions 
                of paragraph (2) on account of the failure of a plan to 
                pay any payment when due.
            ``(2) Payments by secretary to continue excess/stop loss 
        insurance coverage and indemnification insurance coverage for 
        certain plans.--In any case in which the applicable authority 
        determines that there is, or that there is reason to believe 
        that there will be: (A) a failure to take necessary corrective 
        actions under section 809(a) with respect to an association 
        health plan described in subsection (a)(2); or (B) a 
        termination of such a plan under section 809(b) or 810(b)(8) 
        (and, if the applicable authority is not the Secretary, 
        certifies such determination to the Secretary), the Secretary 
        shall determine the amounts necessary to make payments to an 
        insurer (designated by the Secretary) to maintain in force 
        excess/stop loss insurance coverage or indemnification 
        insurance coverage for such plan, if the Secretary determines 
        that there is a reasonable expectation that, without such 
        payments, claims would not be satisfied by reason of 
        termination of such coverage. The Secretary shall, to the 
        extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, pay such 
        amounts so determined to the insurer designated by the 
        Secretary.
            ``(3) Association health plan fund.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There is established on the 
                books of the Treasury a fund to be known as the 
                `Association Health Plan Fund'. The Fund shall be 
                available for making payments pursuant to paragraph 
                (2). The Fund shall be credited with payments received 
                pursuant to paragraph (1)(A), penalties received 
                pursuant to paragraph (1)(B); and earnings on 
                investments of amounts of the Fund under subparagraph 
                (B).
                    ``(B) Investment.--Whenever the Secretary 
                determines that the moneys of the fund are in excess of 
                current needs, the Secretary may request the investment 
                of such amounts as the Secretary determines advisable 
                by the Secretary of the Treasury in obligations issued 
                or guaranteed by the United States.
    ``(g) Excess/Stop Loss Insurance.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) Aggregate excess/stop loss insurance.--The term 
        `aggregate excess/stop loss insurance' means, in connection 
        with an association health plan, a contract--
                    ``(A) under which an insurer (meeting such minimum 
                standards as the applicable authority may prescribe by 
                regulation) provides for payment to the plan with 
                respect to aggregate claims under the plan in excess of 
                an amount or amounts specified in such contract;
                    ``(B) which is guaranteed renewable; and
                    ``(C) which allows for payment of premiums by any 
                third party on behalf of the insured plan.
            ``(2) Specific excess/stop loss insurance.--The term 
        `specific excess/stop loss insurance' means, in connection with 
        an association health plan, a contract--
                    ``(A) under which an insurer (meeting such minimum 
                standards as the applicable authority may prescribe by 
                regulation) provides for payment to the plan with 
                respect to claims under the plan in connection with a 
                covered individual in excess of an amount or amounts 
                specified in such contract in connection with such 
                covered individual;
                    ``(B) which is guaranteed renewable; and
                    ``(C) which allows for payment of premiums by any 
                third party on behalf of the insured plan.
    ``(h) Indemnification Insurance.--For purposes of this section, the 
term `indemnification insurance' means, in connection with an 
association health plan, a contract--
            ``(1) under which an insurer (meeting such minimum 
        standards as the applicable authority may prescribe by 
        regulation) provides for payment to the plan with respect to 
        claims under the plan which the plan is unable to satisfy by 
        reason of a termination pursuant to section 809(b) (relating to 
        mandatory termination);
            ``(2) which is guaranteed renewable and noncancellable for 
        any reason (except as the applicable authority may prescribe by 
        regulation); and
            ``(3) which allows for payment of premiums by any third 
        party on behalf of the insured plan.
    ``(i) Reserves.--For purposes of this section, the term `reserves' 
means, in connection with an association health plan, plan assets which 
meet the fiduciary standards under part 4 and such additional 
requirements regarding liquidity as the applicable authority may 
prescribe by regulation.
    ``(j) Solvency Standards Working Group.--
            ``(1) In general.--Within 90 days after the date of the 
        enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005, 
        the applicable authority shall establish a Solvency Standards 
        Working Group. In prescribing the initial regulations under 
        this section, the applicable authority shall take into account 
        the recommendations of such Working Group.
            ``(2) Membership.--The Working Group shall consist of not 
        more than 15 members appointed by the applicable authority. The 
        applicable authority shall include among persons invited to 
        membership on the Working Group at least one of each of the 
        following:
                    ``(A) a representative of the National Association 
                of Insurance Commissioners;
                    ``(B) a representative of the American Academy of 
                Actuaries;
                    ``(C) a representative of the State governments, or 
                their interests;
                    ``(D) a representative of existing self-insured 
                arrangements, or their interests;
                    ``(E) a representative of associations of the type 
                referred to in section 801(b)(1), or their interests; 
                and
                    ``(F) a representative of multiemployer plans that 
                are group health plans, or their interests.

``SEC. 807. REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION AND RELATED REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Filing Fee.--Under the procedure prescribed pursuant to 
section 802(a), an association health plan shall pay to the applicable 
authority at the time of filing an application for certification under 
this part a filing fee in the amount of $5,000, which shall be 
available in the case of the Secretary, to the extent provided in 
appropriation Acts, for the sole purpose of administering the 
certification procedures applicable with respect to association health 
plans.
    ``(b) Information to Be Included in Application for 
Certification.--An application for certification under this part meets 
the requirements of this section only if it includes, in a manner and 
form which shall be prescribed by the applicable authority by 
regulation, at least the following information:
            ``(1) Identifying information.--The names and addresses 
        of--
                    ``(A) the sponsor; and
                    ``(B) the members of the board of trustees of the 
                plan.
            ``(2) States in which plan intends to do business.--The 
        States in which participants and beneficiaries under the plan 
        are to be located and the number of them expected to be located 
        in each such State.
            ``(3) Bonding requirements.--Evidence provided by the board 
        of trustees that the bonding requirements of section 412 will 
        be met as of the date of the application or (if later) 
        commencement of operations.
            ``(4) Plan documents.--A copy of the documents governing 
        the plan (including any bylaws and trust agreements), the 
        summary plan description, and other material describing the 
        benefits that will be provided to participants and 
        beneficiaries under the plan.
            ``(5) Agreements with service providers.--A copy of any 
        agreements between the plan and contract administrators and 
        other service providers.
            ``(6) Funding report.--In the case of association health 
        plans providing benefits options in addition to health 
        insurance coverage, a report setting forth information with 
        respect to such additional benefit options determined as of a 
        date within the 120-day period ending with the date of the 
        application, including the following:
                    ``(A) Reserves.--A statement, certified by the 
                board of trustees of the plan, and a statement of 
                actuarial opinion, signed by a qualified actuary, that 
                all applicable requirements of section 806 are or will 
                be met in accordance with regulations which the 
                applicable authority shall prescribe.
                    ``(B) Adequacy of contribution rates.--A statement 
                of actuarial opinion, signed by a qualified actuary, 
                which sets forth a description of the extent to which 
                contribution rates are adequate to provide for the 
                payment of all obligations and the maintenance of 
                required reserves under the plan for the 12-month 
                period beginning with such date within such 120-day 
                period, taking into account the expected coverage and 
                experience of the plan. If the contribution rates are 
                not fully adequate, the statement of actuarial opinion 
                shall indicate the extent to which the rates are 
                inadequate and the changes needed to ensure adequacy.
                    ``(C) Current and projected value of assets and 
                liabilities.--A statement of actuarial opinion signed 
                by a qualified actuary, which sets forth the current 
                value of the assets and liabilities accumulated under 
                the plan and a projection of the assets, liabilities, 
                income, and expenses of the plan for the 12-month 
                period referred to in subparagraph (B). The income 
                statement shall identify separately the plan's 
                administrative expenses and claims.
                    ``(D) Costs of coverage to be charged and other 
                expenses.--A statement of the costs of coverage to be 
                charged, including an itemization of amounts for 
                administration, reserves, and other expenses associated 
                with the operation of the plan.
                    ``(E) Other information.--Any other information as 
                may be determined by the applicable authority, by 
                regulation, as necessary to carry out the purposes of 
                this part.
    ``(c) Filing Notice of Certification With States.--A certification 
granted under this part to an association health plan shall not be 
effective unless written notice of such certification is filed with the 
applicable State authority of each State in which at least 25 percent 
of the participants and beneficiaries under the plan are located. For 
purposes of this subsection, an individual shall be considered to be 
located in the State in which a known address of such individual is 
located or in which such individual is employed.
    ``(d) Notice of Material Changes.--In the case of any association 
health plan certified under this part, descriptions of material changes 
in any information which was required to be submitted with the 
application for the certification under this part shall be filed in 
such form and manner as shall be prescribed by the applicable authority 
by regulation. The applicable authority may require by regulation prior 
notice of material changes with respect to specified matters which 
might serve as the basis for suspension or revocation of the 
certification.
    ``(e) Reporting Requirements for Certain Association Health 
Plans.--An association health plan certified under this part which 
provides benefit options in addition to health insurance coverage for 
such plan year shall meet the requirements of section 103 by filing an 
annual report under such section which shall include information 
described in subsection (b)(6) with respect to the plan year and, 
notwithstanding section 104(a)(1)(A), shall be filed with the 
applicable authority not later than 90 days after the close of the plan 
year (or on such later date as may be prescribed by the applicable 
authority). The applicable authority may require by regulation such 
interim reports as it considers appropriate.
    ``(f) Engagement of Qualified Actuary.--The board of trustees of 
each association health plan which provides benefits options in 
addition to health insurance coverage and which is applying for 
certification under this part or is certified under this part shall 
engage, on behalf of all participants and beneficiaries, a qualified 
actuary who shall be responsible for the preparation of the materials 
comprising information necessary to be submitted by a qualified actuary 
under this part. The qualified actuary shall utilize such assumptions 
and techniques as are necessary to enable such actuary to form an 
opinion as to whether the contents of the matters reported under this 
part--
            ``(1) are in the aggregate reasonably related to the 
        experience of the plan and to reasonable expectations; and
            ``(2) represent such actuary's best estimate of anticipated 
        experience under the plan.
The opinion by the qualified actuary shall be made with respect to, and 
shall be made a part of, the annual report.

``SEC. 808. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTARY TERMINATION.

    ``Except as provided in section 809(b), an association health plan 
which is or has been certified under this part may terminate (upon or 
at any time after cessation of accruals in benefit liabilities) only if 
the board of trustees, not less than 60 days before the proposed 
termination date--
            ``(1) provides to the participants and beneficiaries a 
        written notice of intent to terminate stating that such 
        termination is intended and the proposed termination date;
            ``(2) develops a plan for winding up the affairs of the 
        plan in connection with such termination in a manner which will 
        result in timely payment of all benefits for which the plan is 
        obligated; and
            ``(3) submits such plan in writing to the applicable 
        authority.
Actions required under this section shall be taken in such form and 
manner as may be prescribed by the applicable authority by regulation.

``SEC. 809. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AND MANDATORY TERMINATION.

    ``(a) Actions to Avoid Depletion of Reserves.--An association 
health plan which is certified under this part and which provides 
benefits other than health insurance coverage shall continue to meet 
the requirements of section 806, irrespective of whether such 
certification continues in effect. The board of trustees of such plan 
shall determine quarterly whether the requirements of section 806 are 
met. In any case in which the board determines that there is reason to 
believe that there is or will be a failure to meet such requirements, 
or the applicable authority makes such a determination and so notifies 
the board, the board shall immediately notify the qualified actuary 
engaged by the plan, and such actuary shall, not later than the end of 
the next following month, make such recommendations to the board for 
corrective action as the actuary determines necessary to ensure 
compliance with section 806. Not later than 30 days after receiving 
from the actuary recommendations for corrective actions, the board 
shall notify the applicable authority (in such form and manner as the 
applicable authority may prescribe by regulation) of such 
recommendations of the actuary for corrective action, together with a 
description of the actions (if any) that the board has taken or plans 
to take in response to such recommendations. The board shall thereafter 
report to the applicable authority, in such form and frequency as the 
applicable authority may specify to the board, regarding corrective 
action taken by the board until the requirements of section 806 are 
met.
    ``(b) Mandatory Termination.--In any case in which--
            ``(1) the applicable authority has been notified under 
        subsection (a) (or by an issuer of excess/stop loss insurance 
        or indemnity insurance pursuant to section 806(a)) of a failure 
        of an association health plan which is or has been certified 
        under this part and is described in section 806(a)(2) to meet 
        the requirements of section 806 and has not been notified by 
        the board of trustees of the plan that corrective action has 
        restored compliance with such requirements; and
            ``(2) the applicable authority determines that there is a 
        reasonable expectation that the plan will continue to fail to 
        meet the requirements of section 806,
the board of trustees of the plan shall, at the direction of the 
applicable authority, terminate the plan and, in the course of the 
termination, take such actions as the applicable authority may require, 
including satisfying any claims referred to in section 
806(a)(2)(B)(iii) and recovering for the plan any liability under 
subsection (a)(2)(B)(iii) or (e) of section 806, as necessary to ensure 
that the affairs of the plan will be, to the maximum extent possible, 
wound up in a manner which will result in timely provision of all 
benefits for which the plan is obligated.

``SEC. 810. TRUSTEESHIP BY THE SECRETARY OF INSOLVENT ASSOCIATION 
              HEALTH PLANS PROVIDING HEALTH BENEFITS IN ADDITION TO 
              HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

    ``(a) Appointment of Secretary as Trustee for Insolvent Plans.--
Whenever the Secretary determines that an association health plan which 
is or has been certified under this part and which is described in 
section 806(a)(2) will be unable to provide benefits when due or is 
otherwise in a financially hazardous condition, as shall be defined by 
the Secretary by regulation, the Secretary shall, upon notice to the 
plan, apply to the appropriate United States district court for 
appointment of the Secretary as trustee to administer the plan for the 
duration of the insolvency. The plan may appear as a party and other 
interested persons may intervene in the proceedings at the discretion 
of the court. The court shall appoint such Secretary trustee if the 
court determines that the trusteeship is necessary to protect the 
interests of the participants and beneficiaries or providers of medical 
care or to avoid any unreasonable deterioration of the financial 
condition of the plan. The trusteeship of such Secretary shall continue 
until the conditions described in the first sentence of this subsection 
are remedied or the plan is terminated.
    ``(b) Powers as Trustee.--The Secretary, upon appointment as 
trustee under subsection (a), shall have the power--
            ``(1) to do any act authorized by the plan, this title, or 
        other applicable provisions of law to be done by the plan 
        administrator or any trustee of the plan;
            ``(2) to require the transfer of all (or any part) of the 
        assets and records of the plan to the Secretary as trustee;
            ``(3) to invest any assets of the plan which the Secretary 
        holds in accordance with the provisions of the plan, 
        regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and applicable 
        provisions of law;
            ``(4) to require the sponsor, the plan administrator, any 
        participating employer, and any employee organization 
        representing plan participants to furnish any information with 
        respect to the plan which the Secretary as trustee may 
        reasonably need in order to administer the plan;
            ``(5) to collect for the plan any amounts due the plan and 
        to recover reasonable expenses of the trusteeship;
            ``(6) to commence, prosecute, or defend on behalf of the 
        plan any suit or proceeding involving the plan;
            ``(7) to issue, publish, or file such notices, statements, 
        and reports as may be required by the Secretary by regulation 
        or required by any order of the court;
            ``(8) to terminate the plan (or provide for its termination 
        in accordance with section 809(b)) and liquidate the plan 
        assets, to restore the plan to the responsibility of the 
        sponsor, or to continue the trusteeship;
            ``(9) to provide for the enrollment of plan participants 
        and beneficiaries under appropriate coverage options; and
            ``(10) to do such other acts as may be necessary to comply 
        with this title or any order of the court and to protect the 
        interests of plan participants and beneficiaries and providers 
        of medical care.
    ``(c) Notice of Appointment.--As soon as practicable after the 
Secretary's appointment as trustee, the Secretary shall give notice of 
such appointment to--
            ``(1) the sponsor and plan administrator;
            ``(2) each participant;
            ``(3) each participating employer; and
            ``(4) if applicable, each employee organization which, for 
        purposes of collective bargaining, represents plan 
        participants.
    ``(d) Additional Duties.--Except to the extent inconsistent with 
the provisions of this title, or as may be otherwise ordered by the 
court, the Secretary, upon appointment as trustee under this section, 
shall be subject to the same duties as those of a trustee under section 
704 of title 11, United States Code, and shall have the duties of a 
fiduciary for purposes of this title.
    ``(e) Other Proceedings.--An application by the Secretary under 
this subsection may be filed notwithstanding the pendency in the same 
or any other court of any bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosure, or equity 
receivership proceeding, or any proceeding to reorganize, conserve, or 
liquidate such plan or its property, or any proceeding to enforce a 
lien against property of the plan.
    ``(f) Jurisdiction of Court.--
            ``(1) In general.--Upon the filing of an application for 
        the appointment as trustee or the issuance of a decree under 
        this section, the court to which the application is made shall 
        have exclusive jurisdiction of the plan involved and its 
        property wherever located with the powers, to the extent 
        consistent with the purposes of this section, of a court of the 
        United States having jurisdiction over cases under chapter 11 
        of title 11, United States Code. Pending an adjudication under 
        this section such court shall stay, and upon appointment by it 
        of the Secretary as trustee, such court shall continue the stay 
        of, any pending mortgage foreclosure, equity receivership, or 
        other proceeding to reorganize, conserve, or liquidate the 
        plan, the sponsor, or property of such plan or sponsor, and any 
        other suit against any receiver, conservator, or trustee of the 
        plan, the sponsor, or property of the plan or sponsor. Pending 
        such adjudication and upon the appointment by it of the 
        Secretary as trustee, the court may stay any proceeding to 
        enforce a lien against property of the plan or the sponsor or 
        any other suit against the plan or the sponsor.
            ``(2) Venue.--An action under this section may be brought 
        in the judicial district where the sponsor or the plan 
        administrator resides or does business or where any asset of 
        the plan is situated. A district court in which such action is 
        brought may issue process with respect to such action in any 
        other judicial district.
    ``(g) Personnel.--In accordance with regulations which shall be 
prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary shall appoint, retain, and 
compensate accountants, actuaries, and other professional service 
personnel as may be necessary in connection with the Secretary's 
service as trustee under this section.

``SEC. 811. STATE ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY.

    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 514, a State may impose 
by law a contribution tax on an association health plan described in 
section 806(a)(2), if the plan commenced operations in such State after 
the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 
2005.
    ``(b) Contribution Tax.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`contribution tax' imposed by a State on an association health plan 
means any tax imposed by such State if--
            ``(1) such tax is computed by applying a rate to the amount 
        of premiums or contributions, with respect to individuals 
        covered under the plan who are residents of such State, which 
        are received by the plan from participating employers located 
        in such State or from such individuals;
            ``(2) the rate of such tax does not exceed the rate of any 
        tax imposed by such State on premiums or contributions received 
        by insurers or health maintenance organizations for health 
        insurance coverage offered in such State in connection with a 
        group health plan;
            ``(3) such tax is otherwise nondiscriminatory; and
            ``(4) the amount of any such tax assessed on the plan is 
        reduced by the amount of any tax or assessment otherwise 
        imposed by the State on premiums, contributions, or both 
        received by insurers or health maintenance organizations for 
        health insurance coverage, aggregate excess/stop loss insurance 
        (as defined in section 806(g)(1)), specific excess/stop loss 
        insurance (as defined in section 806(g)(2)), other insurance 
        related to the provision of medical care under the plan, or any 
        combination thereof provided by such insurers or health 
        maintenance organizations in such State in connection with such 
        plan.

``SEC. 812. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

    ``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this part--
            ``(1) Group health plan.--The term `group health plan' has 
        the meaning provided in section 733(a)(1) (after applying 
        subsection (b) of this section).
            ``(2) Medical care.--The term `medical care' has the 
        meaning provided in section 733(a)(2).
            ``(3) Health insurance coverage.--The term `health 
        insurance coverage' has the meaning provided in section 
        733(b)(1).
            ``(4) Health insurance issuer.--The term `health insurance 
        issuer' has the meaning provided in section 733(b)(2).
            ``(5) Applicable authority.--The term `applicable 
        authority' means the Secretary, except that, in connection with 
        any exercise of the Secretary's authority regarding which the 
        Secretary is required under section 506(d) to consult with a 
        State, such term means the Secretary, in consultation with such 
        State.
            ``(6) Health status-related factor.--The term `health 
        status-related factor' has the meaning provided in section 
        733(d)(2).
            ``(7) Individual market.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `individual market' 
                means the market for health insurance coverage offered 
                to individuals other than in connection with a group 
                health plan.
                    ``(B) Treatment of very small groups.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        such term includes coverage offered in 
                        connection with a group health plan that has 
                        fewer than 2 participants as current employees 
                        or participants described in section 732(d)(3) 
                        on the first day of the plan year.
                            ``(ii) State exception.--Clause (i) shall 
                        not apply in the case of health insurance 
                        coverage offered in a State if such State 
                        regulates the coverage described in such clause 
                        in the same manner and to the same extent as 
                        coverage in the small group market (as defined 
                        in section 2791(e)(5) of the Public Health 
                        Service Act) is regulated by such State.
            ``(8) Participating employer.--The term `participating 
        employer' means, in connection with an association health plan, 
        any employer, if any individual who is an employee of such 
        employer, a partner in such employer, or a self-employed 
        individual who is such employer (or any dependent, as defined 
        under the terms of the plan, of such individual) is or was 
        covered under such plan in connection with the status of such 
        individual as such an employee, partner, or self-employed 
        individual in relation to the plan.
            ``(9) Applicable state authority.--The term `applicable 
        State authority' means, with respect to a health insurance 
        issuer in a State, the State insurance commissioner or official 
        or officials designated by the State to enforce the 
        requirements of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act 
        for the State involved with respect to such issuer.
            ``(10) Qualified actuary.--The term `qualified actuary' 
        means an individual who is a member of the American Academy of 
        Actuaries.
            ``(11) Affiliated member.--The term `affiliated member' 
        means, in connection with a sponsor--
                    ``(A) a person who is otherwise eligible to be a 
                member of the sponsor but who elects an affiliated 
                status with the sponsor,
                    ``(B) in the case of a sponsor with members which 
                consist of associations, a person who is a member of 
                any such association and elects an affiliated status 
                with the sponsor, or
                    ``(C) in the case of an association health plan in 
                existence on the date of the enactment of the Small 
                Business Health Fairness Act of 2005, a person eligible 
                to be a member of the sponsor or one of its member 
                associations.
            ``(12) Large employer.--The term `large employer' means, in 
        connection with a group health plan with respect to a plan 
        year, an employer who employed an average of at least 51 
        employees on business days during the preceding calendar year 
        and who employs at least 2 employees on the first day of the 
        plan year.
            ``(13) Small employer.--The term `small employer' means, in 
        connection with a group health plan with respect to a plan 
        year, an employer who is not a large employer.
    ``(b) Rules of Construction.--
            ``(1) Employers and employees.--For purposes of determining 
        whether a plan, fund, or program is an employee welfare benefit 
        plan which is an association health plan, and for purposes of 
        applying this title in connection with such plan, fund, or 
        program so determined to be such an employee welfare benefit 
        plan--
                    ``(A) in the case of a partnership, the term 
                `employer' (as defined in section 3(5)) includes the 
                partnership in relation to the partners, and the term 
                `employee' (as defined in section 3(6)) includes any 
                partner in relation to the partnership; and
                    ``(B) in the case of a self-employed individual, 
                the term `employer' (as defined in section 3(5)) and 
                the term `employee' (as defined in section 3(6)) shall 
                include such individual.
            ``(2) Plans, funds, and programs treated as employee 
        welfare benefit plans.--In the case of any plan, fund, or 
        program which was established or is maintained for the purpose 
        of providing medical care (through the purchase of insurance or 
        otherwise) for employees (or their dependents) covered 
        thereunder and which demonstrates to the Secretary that all 
        requirements for certification under this part would be met 
        with respect to such plan, fund, or program if such plan, fund, 
        or program were a group health plan, such plan, fund, or 
        program shall be treated for purposes of this title as an 
        employee welfare benefit plan on and after the date of such 
        demonstration.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments to Preemption Rules.--
            (1) Section 514(b)(6) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1144(b)(6)) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(E) The preceding subparagraphs of this paragraph do not apply 
with respect to any State law in the case of an association health plan 
which is certified under part 8.''.
            (2) Section 514 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1144) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(4), by striking ``Subsection 
                (a)'' and inserting ``Subsections (a) and (d)'';
                    (B) in subsection (b)(5), by striking ``subsection 
                (a)'' in subparagraph (A) and inserting ``subsection 
                (a) of this section and subsections (a)(2)(B) and (b) 
                of section 805'', and by striking ``subsection (a)'' in 
                subparagraph (B) and inserting ``subsection (a) of this 
                section or subsection (a)(2)(B) or (b) of section 
                805'';
                    (C) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
                (e); and
                    (D) by inserting after subsection (c) the following 
                new subsection:
    ``(d)(1) Except as provided in subsection (b)(4), the provisions of 
this title shall supersede any and all State laws insofar as they may 
now or hereafter preclude, or have the effect of precluding, a health 
insurance issuer from offering health insurance coverage in connection 
with an association health plan which is certified under part 8.
    ``(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection 
(b) of this section--
            ``(A) In any case in which health insurance coverage of any 
        policy type is offered under an association health plan 
        certified under part 8 to a participating employer operating in 
        such State, the provisions of this title shall supersede any 
        and all laws of such State insofar as they may preclude a 
        health insurance issuer from offering health insurance coverage 
        of the same policy type to other employers operating in the 
        State which are eligible for coverage under such association 
        health plan, whether or not such other employers are 
        participating employers in such plan.
            ``(B) In any case in which health insurance coverage of any 
        policy type is offered in a State under an association health 
        plan certified under part 8 and the filing, with the applicable 
        State authority (as defined in section 812(a)(9)), of the 
        policy form in connection with such policy type is approved by 
        such State authority, the provisions of this title shall 
        supersede any and all laws of any other State in which health 
        insurance coverage of such type is offered, insofar as they may 
        preclude, upon the filing in the same form and manner of such 
        policy form with the applicable State authority in such other 
        State, the approval of the filing in such other State.
    ``(3) Nothing in subsection (b)(6)(E) or the preceding provisions 
of this subsection shall be construed, with respect to health insurance 
issuers or health insurance coverage, to supersede or impair the law of 
any State--
            ``(A) providing solvency standards or similar standards 
        regarding the adequacy of insurer capital, surplus, reserves, 
        or contributions, or
            ``(B) relating to prompt payment of claims.
    ``(4) For additional provisions relating to association health 
plans, see subsections (a)(2)(B) and (b) of section 805.
    ``(5) For purposes of this subsection, the term `association health 
plan' has the meaning provided in section 801(a), and the terms `health 
insurance coverage', `participating employer', and `health insurance 
issuer' have the meanings provided such terms in section 812, 
respectively.''.
            (3) Section 514(b)(6)(A) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
        1144(b)(6)(A)) is amended--
                    (A) in clause (i)(II), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``and which does 
                not provide medical care (within the meaning of section 
                733(a)(2)),'' after ``arrangement,'', and by striking 
                ``title.'' and inserting ``title, and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new clause:
            ``(iii) subject to subparagraph (E), in the case of any 
        other employee welfare benefit plan which is a multiple 
        employer welfare arrangement and which provides medical care 
        (within the meaning of section 733(a)(2)), any law of any State 
        which regulates insurance may apply.''.
            (4) Section 514(e) of such Act (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (2)(C)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``Nothing'' and inserting ``(1) 
                Except as provided in paragraph (2), nothing''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(2) Nothing in any other provision of law enacted on or after the 
date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005 
shall be construed to alter, amend, modify, invalidate, impair, or 
supersede any provision of this title, except by specific cross-
reference to the affected section.''.
    (c) Plan Sponsor.--Section 3(16)(B) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
102(16)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
``Such term also includes a person serving as the sponsor of an 
association health plan under part 8.''.
    (d) Disclosure of Solvency Protections Related to Self-Insured and 
Fully Insured Options Under Association Health Plans.--Section 102(b) 
of such Act (29 U.S.C. 102(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: ``An association health plan shall include in its summary 
plan description, in connection with each benefit option, a description 
of the form of solvency or guarantee fund protection secured pursuant 
to this Act or applicable State law, if any.''.
    (e) Savings Clause.--Section 731(c) of such Act is amended by 
inserting ``or part 8'' after ``this part''.
    (f) Report to the Congress Regarding Certification of Self-Insured 
Association Health Plans.--Not later than January 1, 2010, the 
Secretary of Labor shall report to the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate the effect association 
health plans have had, if any, on reducing the number of uninsured 
individuals.
    (g) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1 of the 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 734 the following new items:

           ``Part 8--Rules Governing Association Health Plans

``801. Association health plans.
``802. Certification of association health plans.
``803. Requirements relating to sponsors and boards of trustees.
``804. Participation and coverage requirements.
``805. Other requirements relating to plan documents, contribution 
                            rates, and benefit options.
``806. Maintenance of reserves and provisions for solvency for plans 
                            providing health benefits in addition to 
                            health insurance coverage.
``807. Requirements for application and related requirements.
``808. Notice requirements for voluntary termination.
``809. Corrective actions and mandatory termination.
``810. Trusteeship by the Secretary of insolvent association health 
                            plans providing health benefits in addition 
                            to health insurance coverage.
``811. State assessment authority.
``812. Definitions and rules of construction.''.

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF SINGLE EMPLOYER ARRANGEMENTS.

    Section 3(40)(B) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(40)(B)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by inserting after ``control group,'' 
        the following: ``except that, in any case in which the benefit 
        referred to in subparagraph (A) consists of medical care (as 
        defined in section 812(a)(2)), two or more trades or 
        businesses, whether or not incorporated, shall be deemed a 
        single employer for any plan year of such plan, or any fiscal 
        year of such other arrangement, if such trades or businesses 
        are within the same control group during such year or at any 
        time during the preceding 1-year period,'';
            (2) in clause (iii), by striking ``(iii) the 
        determination'' and inserting the following:
            ``(iii)(I) in any case in which the benefit referred to in 
        subparagraph (A) consists of medical care (as defined in 
        section 812(a)(2)), the determination of whether a trade or 
        business is under `common control' with another trade or 
        business shall be determined under regulations of the Secretary 
        applying principles consistent and coextensive with the 
        principles applied in determining whether employees of two or 
        more trades or businesses are treated as employed by a single 
        employer under section 4001(b), except that, for purposes of 
        this paragraph, an interest of greater than 25 percent may not 
        be required as the minimum interest necessary for common 
        control, or
            ``(II) in any other case, the determination'';
            (3) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (v) 
        and (vi), respectively; and
            (4) by inserting after clause (iii) the following new 
        clause:
            ``(iv) in any case in which the benefit referred to in 
        subparagraph (A) consists of medical care (as defined in 
        section 812(a)(2)), in determining, after the application of 
        clause (i), whether benefits are provided to employees of two 
        or more employers, the arrangement shall be treated as having 
        only one participating employer if, after the application of 
        clause (i), the number of individuals who are employees and 
        former employees of any one participating employer and who are 
        covered under the arrangement is greater than 75 percent of the 
        aggregate number of all individuals who are employees or former 
        employees of participating employers and who are covered under 
        the arrangement,''.

SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS RELATING TO ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS.

    (a) Criminal Penalties for Certain Willful Misrepresentations.--
Section 501 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 
U.S.C. 1131) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a)'' after ``Sec. 501.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Any person who willfully falsely represents, to any employee, 
any employee's beneficiary, any employer, the Secretary, or any State, 
a plan or other arrangement established or maintained for the purpose 
of offering or providing any benefit described in section 3(1) to 
employees or their beneficiaries as--
            ``(1) being an association health plan which has been 
        certified under part 8;
            ``(2) having been established or maintained under or 
        pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements which 
        are reached pursuant to collective bargaining described in 
        section 8(d) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 
        158(d)) or paragraph Fourth of section 2 of the Railway Labor 
        Act (45 U.S.C. 152, paragraph Fourth) or which are reached 
        pursuant to labor-management negotiations under similar 
        provisions of State public employee relations laws; or
            ``(3) being a plan or arrangement described in section 
        3(40)(A)(i),
shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned not more than 5 years, be fined 
under title 18, United States Code, or both.''.
    (b) Cease Activities Orders.--Section 502 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
1132) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(n) Association Health Plan Cease and Desist Orders.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), upon 
        application by the Secretary showing the operation, promotion, 
        or marketing of an association health plan (or similar 
        arrangement providing benefits consisting of medical care (as 
        defined in section 733(a)(2))) that--
                    ``(A) is not certified under part 8, is subject 
                under section 514(b)(6) to the insurance laws of any 
                State in which the plan or arrangement offers or 
                provides benefits, and is not licensed, registered, or 
                otherwise approved under the insurance laws of such 
                State; or
                    ``(B) is an association health plan certified under 
                part 8 and is not operating in accordance with the 
                requirements under part 8 for such certification,
        a district court of the United States shall enter an order 
        requiring that the plan or arrangement cease activities.
            ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case 
        of an association health plan or other arrangement if the plan 
        or arrangement shows that--
                    ``(A) all benefits under it referred to in 
                paragraph (1) consist of health insurance coverage; and
                    ``(B) with respect to each State in which the plan 
                or arrangement offers or provides benefits, the plan or 
                arrangement is operating in accordance with applicable 
                State laws that are not superseded under section 514.
            ``(3) Additional equitable relief.--The court may grant 
        such additional equitable relief, including any relief 
        available under this title, as it deems necessary to protect 
        the interests of the public and of persons having claims for 
        benefits against the plan.''.
    (c) Responsibility for Claims Procedure.--Section 503 of such Act 
(29 U.S.C. 1133) is amended by inserting ``(a) In general.--'' before 
``In accordance'', and by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(b) Association Health Plans.--The terms of each association 
health plan which is or has been certified under part 8 shall require 
the board of trustees or the named fiduciary (as applicable) to ensure 
that the requirements of this section are met in connection with claims 
filed under the plan.''.

SEC. 5. COOPERATION BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES.

    Section 506 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 
(29 U.S.C. 1136) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(d) Consultation With States With Respect to Association Health 
Plans.--
            ``(1) Agreements with states.--The Secretary shall consult 
        with the State recognized under paragraph (2) with respect to 
        an association health plan regarding the exercise of--
                    ``(A) the Secretary's authority under sections 502 
                and 504 to enforce the requirements for certification 
                under part 8; and
                    ``(B) the Secretary's authority to certify 
                association health plans under part 8 in accordance 
                with regulations of the Secretary applicable to 
                certification under part 8.
            ``(2) Recognition of primary domicile state.--In carrying 
        out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that only one 
        State will be recognized, with respect to any particular 
        association health plan, as the State with which consultation 
        is required. In carrying out this paragraph--
                    ``(A) in the case of a plan which provides health 
                insurance coverage (as defined in section 812(a)(3)), 
                such State shall be the State with which filing and 
                approval of a policy type offered by the plan was 
                initially obtained, and
                    ``(B) in any other case, the Secretary shall take 
                into account the places of residence of the 
                participants and beneficiaries under the plan and the 
                State in which the trust is maintained.''.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TRANSITIONAL AND OTHER RULES.

    (a) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall take 
effect one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. The 
Secretary of Labor shall first issue all regulations necessary to carry 
out the amendments made by this Act within one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Treatment of Certain Existing Health Benefits Programs.--
            (1) In general.--In any case in which, as of the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, an arrangement is maintained in a 
        State for the purpose of providing benefits consisting of 
        medical care for the employees and beneficiaries of its 
        participating employers, at least 200 participating employers 
        make contributions to such arrangement, such arrangement has 
        been in existence for at least 10 years, and such arrangement 
        is licensed under the laws of one or more States to provide 
        such benefits to its participating employers, upon the filing 
        with the applicable authority (as defined in section 812(a)(5) 
        of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (as 
        amended by this subtitle)) by the arrangement of an application 
        for certification of the arrangement under part 8 of subtitle B 
        of title I of such Act--
                    (A) such arrangement shall be deemed to be a group 
                health plan for purposes of title I of such Act;
                    (B) the requirements of sections 801(a) and 803(a) 
                of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 
                shall be deemed met with respect to such arrangement;
                    (C) the requirements of section 803(b) of such Act 
                shall be deemed met, if the arrangement is operated by 
                a board of directors which--
                            (i) is elected by the participating 
                        employers, with each employer having one vote; 
                        and
                            (ii) has complete fiscal control over the 
                        arrangement and which is responsible for all 
                        operations of the arrangement;
                    (D) the requirements of section 804(a) of such Act 
                shall be deemed met with respect to such arrangement; 
                and
                    (E) the arrangement may be certified by any 
                applicable authority with respect to its operations in 
                any State only if it operates in such State on the date 
                of certification.
        The provisions of this subsection shall cease to apply with 
        respect to any such arrangement at such time after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act as the applicable requirements of 
        this subsection are not met with respect to such arrangement.
            (2) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        terms ``group health plan'', ``medical care'', and 
        ``participating employer'' shall have the meanings provided in 
        section 812 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
        1974, except that the reference in paragraph (7) of such 
        section to an ``association health plan'' shall be deemed a 
        reference to an arrangement referred to in this subsection.




                                                  Union Calendar No. 22

109th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 525

                          [Report No. 109-41]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             April 13, 2005

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
                       and ordered to be printed