As Introduced

128th General Assembly
Regular Session
2009-2010
H. B. No. 256


Representative Gardner 

Cosponsors: Representatives Carney, Wachtmann, Boyd, Sears, Hite, Hottinger, Burke, Mandel, Amstutz, Blair, Oelslager, Boose, Wagner, Balderson, Lehner, Morgan, Baker, Grossman, Derickson, McGregor, Mecklenborg, Hackett, McClain, Zehringer, Adams, R., Huffman, Bacon, Stebelton, Evans, Adams, J., Combs, Jordan, Ruhl, Martin, Blessing, Uecker, Chandler 

A BILL
To create the Small Business Health Care 1
Affordability Task Force.2


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1. (A) There is hereby created the Small Business 3
Health Care Affordability Task Force. The Task Force shall 4
commence its organizational meeting not later than thirty days 5
after the effective date of this section.6

        (B)(1) The Task Force members shall consist of all of the 7
following:8

        (a) Three members of the House of Representatives, two of 9
whom are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives 10
and one of whom is appointed by the Minority Leader of the House 11
of Representatives;12

        (b) Three members of the Senate, two of whom are appointed by 13
the President of the Senate and one of whom is appointed by the 14
Minority Leader of the Senate.15

        (2) The Task Force may, at its organizational meeting, 16
appoint up to five additional members to the Task Force who 17
represent small business employers or employees or who are 18
otherwise relevant to the duties of the Task Force. A member 19
appointed by the Task Force shall not be a member of the General 20
Assembly.21

        (C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 22
President of the Senate shall each designate one member appointed 23
under division (B)(1) of this section to serve as a co-chair of 24
the Task Force.25

        (D) The Task Force shall do all of the following:26

        (1) Study the potential benefits of state tax incentives for 27
small businesses that provide health insurance coverage for 28
employees;29

        (2) Study potential state incentives for businesses to offer 30
health wellness and disease prevention programs;31

        (3) Review employer health insurance tax incentives and 32
wellness programs in other states and analyze whether such state 33
policies would encourage greater affordability of 34
employer-provided health insurance coverage and support employers 35
in maintaining and expanding the workforce in Ohio;36

        (4) Consider federal legislation regarding the provision of 37
health insurance by small businesses, including the proposed 38
"Healthy Workforce Act of 2009" and "Small Business Health Options 39
Program Act of 2009," and the potential impact of such federal 40
legislation on Ohio's small businesses.41

        (E) The Task Force shall report its findings and any 42
recommendations to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 43
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, President of the 44
Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, and Governor not later than 45
six months following the initial organizational meeting of the 46
Task Force.47

        (F) On submission of the report required under division (E) 48
of this section, the Task Force shall cease to exist.49