[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3930 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3930

 To extend for 6 months the maximum COBRA continuation coverage period 
  for individuals who were involuntarily terminated between April 1, 
2009, and December 31, 2009, and to amend the American Reinvestment and 
   Recovery Act of 2009 to extend the eligibility period and maximum 
     assistance period for COBRA premium assistance under such Act.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 26, 2009

  Mr. Sestak introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on 
Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To extend for 6 months the maximum COBRA continuation coverage period 
  for individuals who were involuntarily terminated between April 1, 
2009, and December 31, 2009, and to amend the American Reinvestment and 
   Recovery Act of 2009 to extend the eligibility period and maximum 
     assistance period for COBRA premium assistance under such Act.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Extended COBRA Continuation 
Protection Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. 6-MONTH EXTENSION OF COBRA CONTINUATION COVERAGE FOR 
              INDIVIDUALS INVOLUNTARILY TERMINATED BETWEEN APRIL 1, 
              2008, AND DECEMBER 31, 2008..

    (a) In General.--In applying a COBRA continuation provision (as 
defined in section 2791(d)(4) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 300gg-91(d)(4))) to an individual whose COBRA continuation 
coverage was a consequence of a termination (or reduction of hours) of 
employment occurring on or after April 1, 2008, and before January 1, 
2010, if the maximum required period of COBRA continuation coverage is 
18 months, such period is extended to 24 months.
    (b) Transitional Rule.--
            (1) In general.--In the case of an individual described in 
        paragraph (2), under rules established jointly by the 
        Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor, 
        the individual may elect to continue and extend such coverage 
        under the provisions of subsection (a) through an election 
        similar to the election permitted under section 3001(a)(4)(A) 
        of division B of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 
        2009. In no case shall the extended period of continuation 
        under this paragraph exceed 6 months.
            (2) Individual described.--An individual described in this 
        paragraph is an individual whose COBRA continuation coverage --
                    (A) is described in subsection (a);
                    (B) expired by virtue of reaching the maximum 
                required period of continuation coverage before the 
                date of the enactment of this Act; and
                    (C) would, but for the application of such maximum 
                required period of such continuation coverage, had 
                continued after such date.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF COBRA PREMIUM ASSISTANCE UNDER ARRA.

    (a) Extension of Period for Individuals To Qualify as Assistance 
Eligible Individuals.--Subsection (a)(3)(A) of section 3001 of division 
B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 
111-5) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2009'' and inserting 
``June 30, 2010''.
    (b) Extension of Maximum Period of COBRA Premium Assistance.--
Subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii) of such section is amended--
            (1) in subclause (I), by striking ``9 months'' and 
        inserting ``15 months'';
            (2) by striking ``or'' at the end of subclause (II);
            (3) by striking the period at the end of subclause (III) 
        and inserting ``, or''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
                                    ``(IV) December 31, 2010.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall be 
effective as if included in the enactment of the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
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