H. C. R. No. 3 As Introduced

As Introduced

129th General Assembly

Regular Session

2011-2012

H. C. R. No. 3

Representative O'Brien

Cosponsors: Representatives Letson, Gerberry, Hagan, Gentile, Yuko, Blair

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To request the members of the United States Congress 1
to reauthorize and continue the Health Coverage 2
Tax Credit (HCTC) enhancements including 3
provisions related to the monthly reimbursement 4
program, the qualified family members program, and 5
Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Associations 6
(VEBAs). 7

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE SENATE CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, The Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) enhancements 8
enacted in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and 9
subsequent extension of those enhancements that increased HCTC's 10
coverage of health premiums from sixty-five per cent to eighty per 11
cent are set to expire February 12, 2011; and 12

       WHEREAS, Qualified family members of eligible individuals are 13
currently eligible for the credit through the HCTC enhancements; 14
and 15

       WHEREAS, The HCTC enhancements have provided a lifeline to 16
individuals who lost their jobs and health coverage as the result 17
of trade-related business disruptions; and 18

       WHEREAS, The HCTC enhancements also have been critical to 19
thousands of retirees, including approximately twelve thousand 20
Delphi retirees in Dayton and Warren, Ohio, as well as retired 21
Delta pilots, who lost their health care along with their 22
retirement security when the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation 23
assumed responsibility for their hard-earned pensions; and 24

       WHEREAS, The uncertainty of Voluntary Employee Beneficiary 25
Association's (VEBA) ever-changing qualification status is a 26
deterrent to the participants who consider leaving other insurance 27
to join an HCTC plan; now therefore be it 28

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 129th General Assembly 29
of the State of Ohio, hereby request that the United States 30
Congress reauthorize and continue the Health Coverage Tax Credit 31
at eighty per cent until July 1, 2012; reauthorize and continue 32
the monthly reimbursement program until July 1, 2012; incorporate 33
the qualified family members program as a permanent part of the 34
HCTC program and remove the maximum twenty-four-month time limit 35
for pre-Medicare qualified family members to be eligible for the 36
program; and permanently consider VEBAs that were created during 37
the authorized time frame to be HCTC-qualified VEBAs for the 38
duration of the existence of the VEBA; and be it further 39

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly 40
authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of the 41
United States, to the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States 42
House of Representatives, to the President Pro Tempore and the 43
Secretary of the United States Senate, to the members of the Ohio 44
Congressional delegation, and to the news media of Ohio. 45

WHEREAS, The Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) enhancements	8
enacted in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and	9
subsequent extension of those enhancements that increased HCTC's	10
coverage of health premiums from sixty-five per cent to eighty per	11
cent are set to expire February 12, 2011; and	12

WHEREAS, Qualified family members of eligible individuals are	13
currently eligible for the credit through the HCTC enhancements;	14
and	15

WHEREAS, The HCTC enhancements have provided a lifeline to	16
individuals who lost their jobs and health coverage as the result	17
of trade-related business disruptions; and	18

WHEREAS, The HCTC enhancements also have been critical to	19
thousands of retirees, including approximately twelve thousand	20
Delphi retirees in Dayton and Warren, Ohio, as well as retired	21
Delta pilots, who lost their health care along with their	22
retirement security when the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation	23
assumed responsibility for their hard-earned pensions; and	24

WHEREAS, The uncertainty of Voluntary Employee Beneficiary	25
Association's (VEBA) ever-changing qualification status is a	26
deterrent to the participants who consider leaving other insurance	27
to join an HCTC plan; now therefore be it	28

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 129th General Assembly	29
of the State of Ohio, hereby request that the United States	30
Congress reauthorize and continue the Health Coverage Tax Credit	31
at eighty per cent until July 1, 2012; reauthorize and continue	32
the monthly reimbursement program until July 1, 2012; incorporate	33
the qualified family members program as a permanent part of the	34
HCTC program and remove the maximum twenty-four-month time limit	35
for pre-Medicare qualified family members to be eligible for the	36
program; and permanently consider VEBAs that were created during	37
the authorized time frame to be HCTC-qualified VEBAs for the	38
duration of the existence of the VEBA; and be it further	39

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly	40
authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of the	41
United States, to the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States	42
House of Representatives, to the President Pro Tempore and the	43
Secretary of the United States Senate, to the members of the Ohio	44
Congressional delegation, and to the news media of Ohio.	45