Senate Bill sb1238c1
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Florida Senate - 2002 CS for SB 1238
By the Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care; and
Senator Jones
317-1855-02
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to health coverage for
3 displaced workers; authorizing the Agency for
4 Health Care Administration to make payments for
5 medical assistance and related services and for
6 subsidies for certain health insurance coverage
7 for specified unemployed persons and their
8 families; providing for determination of
9 eligibility; providing a finding of important
10 state interest; providing effective dates and
11 an expiration date.
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13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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15 Section 1. (1) Subject to specific federal
16 authorization, the Agency for Health Care Administration may
17 make payments for medical assistance and related services on
18 behalf of persons and the families of persons who became or
19 becomes unemployed for reasons other than gross misconduct
20 after September 11, 2001, and who is not eligible for
21 insurance coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
22 Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) or health care insurance
23 under the Florida Health Insurance Coverage Continuation Act.
24 Payment on behalf of these Medicaid eligible persons is
25 subject to the availability of moneys and any limitations
26 established by the General Appropriations Act or chapter 216.
27 (2) This section shall take effect on the effective
28 date of federal legislation authorizing the expansion of
29 Medicaid coverage to persons who become or became unemployed
30 after September 11, 2001, if such federal legislation provides
31 for enhanced federal Medicaid matching rates for payments on
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Florida Senate - 2002 CS for SB 1238
317-1855-02
1 behalf of persons uninsured after September 11, 2002, and
2 shall expire on December 31, 2002.
3 Section 2. (1) For persons who become or became
4 unemployed after September 11, 2001, who are eligible for
5 insurance coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
6 Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), the Agency for Health Care
7 Administration may subsidize up to 25 percent of the premium
8 for such person and for that person's family, subject to the
9 availability of moneys and any limitations established by the
10 General Appropriations Act or chapter 216, Florida Statutes.
11 (2) For persons who become or became unemployed after
12 September 11, 2001, who are eligible for continuing coverage
13 under the Florida Health Insurance Coverage Continuation Act,
14 the Agency for Health Care Administration may subsidize up to
15 75 percent of the premium for such person and for that
16 person's family, subject to the availability of moneys and any
17 limitations established by the General Appropriations Act or
18 chapter 216, Florida Statutes.
19 (3) Eligibility for the subsidy under subsection (1)
20 or subsection (2) shall be determined by the Department of
21 Children and Family Services.
22 (4) This section shall take effect on the effective
23 date of federal legislation authorizing a 75-percent premium
24 subsidy for persons eligible for COBRA insurance coverage who
25 become or became unemployed after September 11, 2001, and
26 shall expire on December 31, 2002.
27 Section 3. The Legislature finds that the provisions
28 of this law fulfill an important state interest.
29 Section 4. Except as otherwise specifically provided
30 in this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
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Florida Senate - 2002 CS for SB 1238
317-1855-02
1 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
2 Senate Bill 1238
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4 The Committee Substitute for SB 1238 allows the Agency for
Health Care Administration to make payments for medical
5 assistance on behalf of persons, and the families of persons,
unemployed after September 11, 2001; adds a requirement that
6 these persons not have been terminated from employment due to
gross misconduct, and not be eligible for continuation under
7 the Florida Health Insurance Coverage Continuation Act; adds a
requirement that the provisions of the bill be subject to
8 available monies and limitations established by the General
Appropriations Act or chapter 216, F.S.; adds a provision to
9 allow the Agency for Health Care Administration to subsidize
up to 75 percent of the premium for continuing coverage under
10 the Florida Health Insurance Coverage Continuation Act; adds a
requirement for the Department of Children and Family Services
11 to determine eligibility; adds a finding that the provisions
of the law fulfill an important state interest; and provides
12 an effective date of upon becoming a law, except as otherwise
specifically provided in the bill.
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