Responsible COBRA, Unemployment, and Poverty Extension Act

Bill: 111-hr-5647
Sponsor: Rep. Heller, Dean [R-NV-2]
Introduced: 2010-06-30 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Appropriations
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Intergovernmental relations
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local finance
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: 
Responsible COBRA, Unemployment, and Poverty Extension Act - Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 with respect to the state-established individual emergency unemployment compensation account (EUCA). Extends the final date for entering a federal-state agreement under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program through FY2010. Postpones the termination of the program until March 1, 2011.
 
Amends the Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families Act to extend through FY2010 requirements that federal payments to states cover 100% of EUC.
 
Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to extend through FY2010, premium assistance for COBRA benefits (health insurance continuation benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985).
 
Prescribes a special rule for an individual who experiences a qualifying event related to a termination of employment on or after June 1, 2010, and before the enactment of this Act. Applies to all COBRA continuation coverage, including state continuation coverage programs, with respect to such individual rules similar to those in the ARRA: (1) extending the election period for, and the effect on, COBRA continuation coverage; and (2) requiring a notice of such action by the administrator of a group health plan.
 
Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 to extend the use of 2009 poverty guidelines through FY2010. Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from publishing updated poverty guidelines for 2010 until after such date.
 
Rescinds pro rata the unobligated balance of each amount appropriated or made available under ARRA (except under title X: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs of division A), so that the aggregate amount of such rescissions equals $27 billion to offset the net increase in spending resulting from this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-10-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Referred to House Budget
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Referred to House Appropriations
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Appropriations, Education and Labor, the Budget, Oversight and Government Reform, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Introduced in House