Senate File 350 SENATE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1124) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to a premium tax offset for the Iowa individual 2 health reinsurance association, and phasing=in a standing 3 appropriation for replacement of the individual health 4 reinsurance association assessments upon political 5 subdivisions and school corporations. 6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 7 TLSB 2071SV 80 8 jj/cf/24 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 509A.16 APPROPRIATION FOR 1 2 ASSESSMENTS LEVIED ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. 1 3 There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to 1 4 the Iowa individual health benefit reinsurance association 1 5 established pursuant to section 513C.10 the following amount 1 6 of the assessments due and owing, pursuant to section 513C.10, 1 7 from each political subdivision and school corporation for 1 8 health benefit plans: 1 9 1. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006, twenty 1 10 percent of such assessments. 1 11 2. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, forty 1 12 percent of such assessments. 1 13 3. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, sixty 1 14 percent of such assessments. 1 15 4. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009, eighty 1 16 percent of such assessments. 1 17 5. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010, and 1 18 succeeding fiscal years, one hundred percent of such 1 19 assessments. 1 20 Sec. 2. Section 514E.2, subsection 13, Code 2003, is 1 21 amended to read as follows: 1 22 13. A member who, after July 1,19862003, has paid one or 1 23 more assessments levied under this chapter or chapter 513C may 1 24 take a credit against the premium taxes, or similar taxes, 1 25 upon revenues or income of the member that are imposed by the 1 26 state on health insurance premiums pursuant to chapter 432 or 1 27 payments subject to taxation under section 514B.31, up to the 1 28 amount of twenty percent of those taxes due, for each of the 1 29 five calendar years following the year for which an assessment 1 30 was paid, or until the aggregate of those assessments has been 1 31 offset by credits against those taxes if this occurs first. 1 32 If a member ceases doing business, all uncredited assessments 1 33 may be credited against its premium tax liability for the year 1 34 it ceases doing business. 1 35 Sec. 3. INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE TASK FORCE. The 2 1 insurance division of the department of commerce shall 2 2 establish an individual health insurance task force. The 2 3 individual health insurance task force shall conduct a study 2 4 to review the individual health insurance market reform under 2 5 chapter 513C and the Iowa comprehensive health insurance 2 6 association under chapter 514E. The study shall include 2 7 review of the following: 2 8 1. The premium rating system for the guaranteed basic and 2 9 standard plans regulated under chapter 513C and the 2 10 comprehensive health insurance plans under chapter 514E. 2 11 2. The availability of and qualifications for coverage 2 12 under the guaranteed basic and standard plans regulated under 2 13 chapter 513C and the comprehensive health insurance plans 2 14 under chapter 514E. 2 15 3. The cost=sharing and assessment mechanisms under 2 16 sections 513C.10 and 514E.2. 2 17 4. Any other matters as agreed upon by the task force 2 18 which affect the individual health insurance market. 2 19 The commissioner of insurance shall select the members of 2 20 the task force which shall include representatives from the 2 21 Iowa comprehensive health insurance association, the public 2 22 employee governing bodies subject to chapter 509A, and other 2 23 health insurance=related parties or experts as deemed 2 24 appropriate by the commissioner. 2 25 The commissioner shall submit a report from the task force 2 26 to the general assembly on or before January 15, 2004, 2 27 regarding the task force's findings and recommendations 2 28 including proposed legislation concerning individual health 2 29 insurance. 2 30 EXPLANATION 2 31 This bill amends Code section 514E.2 to provide for a 2 32 phased=in, graduated, five=year premium tax offset for the 2 33 individual health reinsurance association assessments paid by 2 34 health insurers and health plans. In conjunction, the bill 2 35 adds new Code section 509A.16, which establishes a five=year, 3 1 phased=in, graduated general fund appropriation to replace the 3 2 elimination of the individual health reinsurance association 3 3 assessments paid by self=funded government entities and school 3 4 districts. 3 5 The bill also requires the insurance division to establish 3 6 an individual health insurance task force to study individual 3 7 health insurance market reform and the Iowa comprehensive 3 8 health insurance association, including certain specific 3 9 issues. Members of the task force are to include 3 10 representatives from the insurance industry, public employees, 3 11 and health insurance=related parties or experts as 3 12 appropriate. The report from the task force is due to the 3 13 general assembly on or before January 15, 2004. 3 14 LSB 2071SV 80 3 15 jj/cf/24