Health Benefits in Federal Contracting Act of 1998

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Health Benefits in Federal 
Contracting Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. HEALTH BENEFITS STANDARDS.

    (a) Requirement.--
            (1) General rule.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any 
        employer under a Federal contract for an amount exceeding 
        $10,000 or a subcontract under a Federal contract for such an 
        amount shall, except as provided in subsection (b), provide 
        each of the employer's employees working on or hired in 
        conjunction with such contract or subcontract health benefits 
        that meet the requirements of this section.
            (2) Exceptions.--
                    (A) Employers.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an 
                employer which is--
                            (i) a small business concern as defined 
                        under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 
                        U.S.C. 632), or
                            (ii) a nonprofit organization exempt from 
                        Federal income tax under section 501(c) of the 
                        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 if the ratio of 
                        the total compensation of its chief executive 
                        officer to the compensation of the full-time 
                        equivalent of its lowest paid employee is not 
                        greater than 25 to 1.
                    (B) Employees.--The requirement of paragraph (1) 
                shall not apply to an employee who--
                            (i) is employed for less than 17-\1/2\ 
                        hours per week (on average) for the employer;
                            (ii) has health benefits coverage through 
                        other employment or through employment of the 
                        employee's spouse or parents; or
                            (iii) is participating in an apprenticeship 
                        program, or any other training program which 
                        does not exceed 6 months in duration and which 
                        is offered to an employee while employed in 
                        productive work that provides training, 
                        technical and other related skills, and 
                        personal skills that are essential to the full 
                        and adequate performance of the employee's 
                        employment.
            (3) Scope.--An employer may not avoid the requirement of 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by laying off or otherwise terminating the 
                employment of an employee with the intention of 
                replacing such employee with an employee who, under 
                subsection (b), is not eligible for the health care 
                benefits required by paragraph (1); or
                    (B) by reducing the number of hours of employment 
                of an employee with the intention of making the 
                employee ineligible for such benefits.
            (4) Contract requirement.--Any contract between the Federal 
        Government and any contractor and any contract between such 
        contractor with a subcontractor to carry out work for the 
        Federal Government shall require the contractor or 
        subcontractor to provide the health benefits required by 
        paragraph (1).
    (b) Required Health Benefits.--The health benefits required under 
subsection (a) shall meet the following requirements:
            (1) Scope of benefits.--The scope of benefits shall be at 
        least actuarially equivalent to the benefits under the health 
        benefits plan offered under chapter 89 of title 5, United 
        States Code, with the largest national enrollment.
            (2) Employer contribution.--The employer contribution 
        towards such coverage--
                    (A) that only includes coverage for the employee, 
                shall be not less than the percentage contribution made 
                by the Federal Government under such chapter for 
                coverage described in paragraph (1) for non-family 
                coverage; and
                    (B) that includes coverage for family members, 
                shall be equal to the contribution described in 
                subparagraph (A) plus at least 50 percent of the 
                additional cost to obtain family coverage.
    (c) Enforcement.--
            (1) Termination.--If an employer does not provide the 
        health benefits required by subsection (a) the Federal contract 
        or subcontract under which such employer was employing 
        employees shall be terminated.
            (2) Ineligibility.--An employer described in paragraph (1) 
        shall not be eligible for any Federal contract or subcontract 
        for a period of 5 years beginning on the date the employer does 
        not provide the required health benefits.
            (3) Restitution.--An employer who does not provide the 
        health benefits required by subsection (a) shall be liable to 
        the United States in an amount equal to the unpaid benefits and 
        in addition an equal amount as liquidated damages. The 
        Secretary of Labor shall pay to the employees who were not 
        provided such benefits the amount recovered by the United 
        States under this paragraph.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect with respect to Federal contracts 
entered into, renewed, or extended after 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act.

Summary: Health Benefits in Federal Contracting Act of 1998 - Requires any employer under a Federal contract or subcontract for an amount exceeding $10,000, to provide to each of his or her employees under such contract or subcontract health benefits similar to those provided to Federal employees. Provides exemptions with respect to: (1) employers that are small business concerns or nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations. And (2) employees who are employed for less than 17.5 hours per week, who otherwise have health benefits coverage, or who are participating in a training program of not to exceed 6 months. Requires the contract or subcontract to specify such requirement. Prohibits an employer from avoiding the requirement by: (1) replacing an employee with one who is not eligible for health care benefits. Or (2) reducing an employee's hours. Terminates the Federal contract or subcontract of an employer who does not provide the health benefits required. Makes such employer: (1) ineligible for any Federal contract or subcontract for five years. And (2) liable to the United States in an amount equal to the unpaid benefits and an equal amount as liquidated damages. Requires the Secretary of Labor to pay to employees who were not provided such benefits the amount recovered by the United States.