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S.B.1147 An Act Concerning Health Care Coverage
 
Bill Language (Final action: Died with no action)
Committee Bill Raised Bill 1147
This bill, popularly known as the "pay or play" bill, attempted to address the problem of large employers who do not provide affordable health insurance to their low-wage employees; employees who then use the HUSKY program for health insurance.
The original language was modeled after California's law. The intent was not necessarily to adhere to California's model, but rather to use it for a vehicle for debate and discussion around how such a law might look in Connecticut.

Labor Committee, JFS Language
Finance Committee JFS Language
Committee Action
File Copy
File Number 710
Senate Action
Amendments
The bill sat on the Senate Calendar as negotiations went on behind closed doors in an effort to pass language that might have some impact, albeit small. Numerous amendments were filed on the bill, including a "conscience clause" amendment that would have exempted "religious employers" from being required to provide benefits to domestic or civil union partners of an employee.
In the final days of the session, health care advocates, working with Senator Looney and Rep. Donovan, agreed to strip the bill of all the provisions except for the Health Security Surcharge. Thus, the bill would have required all covered employers to pay the surcharge minus any credit earned by the employer for the employer's costs of providing health care benefits or payments in lieu of bnefits. The surcharge was calculated as 25% of the minimum wage multiplied by the total number of hours worked for each employee for which the surcharge applies. The funds collected would have been deposited into the General Fund for the purpose of defraying the cost of providing health care coverage to employees of covered employers.
Ultimately, no action was taken by the Senate on the bill, as leadership could not rally enough support for the bill in the waning hours of the session. In addition, the Republicans were threatening to filibuster every controversial bill that was called, thus holding up bills that were priorities for other legislators.