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2015 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor

Chairman: John C. Watkins

Clerk: Maribeth Turner
Staff: Frank Munyan
Date of Meeting: February 9, 2015
Time and Place: Monday, 1/2 hour after adjournment, Senate Room B
UPDATED

S.B. 760 Medicare; supplement policies for certain individuals under age 65.

Patron: Edwards

Medicare supplement policies for individuals under age 65. Requires insurers issuing Medicare supplement policies in the Commonwealth to make standardized Medicare Supplement Plans A and C available to any Medicare enrollee under 65 years of age who is eligible for Medicare due to disability or end-stage renal disease. A Medicare supplement policy issued to such an individual may not exclude benefits based on a preexisting condition if the individual has a continuous period of creditable coverage of at least six months as of the date of application for coverage. The enrollment period for an individual is the six-month period following the month the individual became eligible for Medicare or during the 63-day period following termination of coverage under a group health insurance policy.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 36 of Title 38.2 a section numbered 38.2-3610, relating to Medicare supplement policies for individuals under age 65.

15100529D

S.B. 990 Domestic violence leave; employers to provide for employees.

Patron: Lucas

Domestic violence leave for employees. Requires employers to allow an employee to take domestic violence leave, with or without pay, if the employee or the employee's family member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Domestic violence leave may be taken to (i) seek legal or law-enforcement assistance or remedies; (ii) seek treatment by a health care provider for physical or mental injuries caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking or to attend to health care treatment for a victim who is the employee's family member; (iii) obtain, or assist a family member in obtaining, services from a domestic violence shelter, rape crisis center, or other social services program for relief from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; (iv) obtain, or assist a family member in obtaining, mental health counseling related to an incident of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, in which the employee or the employee's family member was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or (v) participate in safety planning, temporarily or permanently relocate, or take other actions to increase the safety of the employee or employee's family members from future domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Employers are prohibited from discharging or discriminating against an employee because the employee takes domestic violence leave.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 40.1 a section numbered 40.1-28.7:5, relating to the duty of employers to provide employees with domestic violence leave.

15102846D

S.B. 1046 Benefits consortium; certain localities to form.

Patron: Hanger

Benefits consortium for localities. Authorizes the governing bodies of three or more cities, counties, or school boards to form a benefits consortium for the purpose of establishing a self-funded employee welfare benefit plan. The benefits consortium will be a nonstock corporation established to operate a benefits plan. The benefits consortium will be exempt from taxation and from insurance regulations.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-1517.1, relating to the formation of a not-for-profit benefits consortium by localities.

15103138D

S.B. 1166 Public service corporations; access to public records.

Patron: Hanger

Public service corporations; access to public records. Makes a public service corporation subject to the public records provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act with respect to any project or activity for which it may exercise the power of eminent domain and has filed or prefiled for a certificate or other permitting document.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 56-49 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public service corporations; public access to records relating to exercise of right of eminent domain.

15103252D

S.B. 1169 Natural gas companies; right to enter upon property.

Patron: Hanger

Natural gas companies; right to enter upon property. Conditions a natural gas utility's exercise of its authority to enter upon the property of a landowner without his permission upon the adoption by the local governing body of the city or county in which the property is located expressing support for the gas line or works. The governing body may only adopt such a resolution if it finds that locating the line or works within the locality is consistent with its comprehensive plan and that there exists a demonstrated public need for the line or works.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 56-49.01 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the right of natural gas companies to enter upon property.

15102840D

S.B. 1328 Virginia Health Benefit Exchange; created.

Patron: Watkins

Virginia Health Benefit Exchange. Creates the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange, which will be established and operated by a new division within the State Corporation Commission (SCC). The Exchange shall facilitate the purchase and sale of qualified health plans and qualified dental plans to qualified individuals and qualified employers, making qualified plans available to qualified individuals and qualified employers. The SCC may delay the effective date as it deems necessary to permit the completion of the establishment of the Exchange. The bill authorizes the SCC to review and approve accident and sickness insurance premium rates applicable to health benefit plans in the individual and small group markets and health benefit plans providing health insurance coverage in the individual market through certain nonemployer group plans. The Exchange will be funded by assessments on health insurers offering plans in the Exchange. A health plan will not be required to cover any state-mandated health benefit if federal law does not require it to be covered as part of the essential benefits package. The essential health benefits are items and services included in the benchmark health insurance plan, which is the largest plan in the largest product in the Commonwealth's small group market as supplemented in order to provide coverage for the items and services within the statutory essential health benefits categories. The SCC may contract with other eligible entities and enter into memoranda of understanding with other agencies of the Commonwealth to carry out any of the functions of the Exchange, including agreements with other states or federal agencies to perform joint administrative functions. Such contracts are not subject to the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.).

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 38.2-4214, 38.2-4319, and 38.2-4509 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 38.2 a chapter numbered 64, consisting of sections numbered 38.2-6400 through 38.2-6415; and to repeal the second enactments of Chapters 670 and 679 of the Acts of Assembly of 2013, relating to the establishment and operation of a health benefit exchange for the Commonwealth; assessments.

15102924D

S.B. 1338 Natural gas companies; right of entry upon property.

Patron: Hanger

Natural gas companies; right of entry upon property. Repeals a provision, enacted in 2004, that allows interstate natural gas companies to enter upon property to make examinations, tests, land auger borings, appraisals, and surveys without the written consent of the owner under certain circumstances.

A BILL to repeal § 56-49.01 of the Code of Virginia, relating to natural gas companies' right of entry upon property.

15103203D

S.B. 1457 Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder.

Patron: Vogel

Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder. Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder in individuals of any age. Currently, such coverage is required to be provided for individuals from age two through age six. The provision applies with respect to insurance policies, subscription contracts, and health care plans delivered, issued for delivery, reissued, or extended on or after January 1, 2016.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 38.2-3418.17 of the Code of Virginia, relating to health insurance; coverage for autism spectrum disorder.

15103968D

S.B. 1462 Va. Offshore Wind Development Authority; converted to Va. Offshore Energy Development Authority.

Patron: Wagner

Virginia Offshore Energy Development Authority. Converts the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority to the Virginia Offshore Energy Development Authority and broadens its focus to include facilitating, coordinating, and supporting the development of the offshore oil and gas industry and offshore oil and gas projects.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 67-1200 through 67-1205, 67-1207, and 67-1210 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the establishment of the Virginia Offshore Energy Development Authority; successor to Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority.

15104513D