P - Present
E - Excused
A - Absent
Roll Call
P Abdallah
P Kelly
P Koetzle
P Schoenbeck
P Sutton (Dan)
P Broderick, Vice-Chair
P McCracken, Chair
OTHERS PRESENT: See Original Minutes
The meeting was called to order by Senator McCracken, Chair
MOTION:
TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 18, 2005
Moved by: Koetzle
Second by: Kelly
Action: Prevailed by voice vote.
MOTION:
INTRODUCE THE GOVERNOR'S BILL "AN ACT TO MODIFY PROVISIONS
RELATING TO CHARGING EMPLOYERS FOR THE PAYMENTS OF
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS."
Moved by: Broderick
Second by: Abdallah
Action: Prevailed by roll call vote.(6-0-1-0)
Voting Yes: Abdallah, Kelly, Koetzle, Sutton (Dan), Broderick, McCracken
Excused: Schoenbeck
"
Section 10. That
§
58-18C-1
be amended to read as follows:
58-18C-1.
Every policy of group health insurance providing benefits for hospital or medical
expenses delivered or issued for delivery in this state, by a commercial health insurance company,
by a nonprofit medical and surgical service plan corporation, by a nonprofit hospital service plan
corporation, by a health maintenance organization, or by any other similar mechanism shall, in
addition to the provisions required by law, include the right of each employee, upon their employer
ceasing operations and the termination of the policy or contract, to have the coverage continue for
themselves and their eligible dependents, effective as of the date of loss of the previous group
coverage, for a period of twelve months for which the employee shall be financially responsible. In
addition, if an employer either fails to submit premium payment to the insurance company resulting
in loss of coverage to its employees or cancels the coverage and does not notify the employees of
such loss of coverage, the employees and their dependents are then eligible for continuation pursuant
to this section if election is made within sixty days of the date of their being notified of the loss of
coverage. The employer shall provide notice of any nonpayment of premiums or cancellation of
coverage to employees as soon as reasonably possible but no later than ten days after the date of
cancellation. If the employer fails to notify the employees and their dependents of the termination
of coverage within ten days, the employees and dependents may not be denied coverage by the
insurer provided timely election is made after actual receipt of notice. Whether notice is provided
or not, the election period for continuation of coverage may expire ninety days from the date the
group coverage terminated. Any premiums due for the continuation of coverage may be required to
be paid by the employee or dependent as a condition of providing continuation coverage.
Moved by: Kelly
Second by: Broderick
Action: Prevailed by voice vote.
Grace Curtis