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HB 256
As Introduced

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H. B. No. 256 As Introduced

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 Affordability Task Force.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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