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HR 1515 105th Congress House

Expansion of Portability and Health Insurance Coverage Act of 1997

Official title: To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide new portability, participation, solvency, and other health insurance protect… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide new portability, participation, solvency, and other health insurance protections and freedoms for workers in mobile workforce, to increase the purchasing power of employees and employers by removing barriers to the voluntary formation of association health plans, to increase health plan competition providing more affordable choice of coverage, to expand access to health insurance coverage for employees of small employers through open market, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 19, 1997 See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment AccountingAdministrative feesAdministrative procedureBankruptcy
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Chambers of commerceChurchesCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesClergyCollective bargaining agreementsCommerceCooperative societiesCrime and Law EnforcementDepartment of LaborDiscrimination in insuranceDiscrimination in medical careEmployee health benefitsEmployer mandatesFederal preemptionFederal-state relationsFinance and Financial SectorFines (Penalties)FraudGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkHealthHealth care fraudHealth insuranceHealth insurance industryInjunctionsInsurance companiesInsurance premiumsInsurance ratesLawLicensesMarketingProfessional associationsReligionSales promotionSentences (Criminal procedure)StandardsState lawsState mandatesTrade associationsTrusts and trustees
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 12, 1997
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 20.
Jun 12, 1997
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 11, 1997
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 22, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
May 8, 1997
Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations Prior to Referral.
May 5, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E830-831)
May 1, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
May 1, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 12, 1997

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 20.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Expansion of Portability and Health Insurance Coverage Act of 1997 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish rules governing health plans sponsored by certain associations, including requirements for: (1) certification; (2) sponsors and boards of trustees, and treatment of franchised networks and collectively bargained plans; (3) participation and coverage of employers and individuals and of previously uninsured employees; (4) plan documents, contribution rates, and benefit options; (5) maintenance of reserves, excess-stop loss insurance, and solvency indemnification for plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage; (6) application and related matters, and notice for voluntary termination; (7) corrective actions and mandatory termination; and (8) special rules for church plans.

Revises requirements for the treatment of: (1) single employer arrangements; and (2) certain collectively bargained arrangements.

Adds requirements relating to association health plans, with respect to: (1) enforcement; and (2) State responsibilities and cooperation between Federal and State authorities.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 729 Identical bill Expansion of Portability and Health Insurance Coverage Act of 1997
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 21
All 21 Republican 4
SANDLIN, MAX
· Nov 12, 1997
NETHERCUTT, GEORGE
· Jun 19, 1997
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Jun 19, 1997
DOOLEY, CAL
· May 19, 1997
COMBEST, LARRY
· May 14, 1997
BUYER, STEPHEN
· May 13, 1997
BALLENGER, CASS
· May 1, 1997
BEREUTER, DOUGLAS
· May 1, 1997
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · May 1, 1997
COLLINS, MAC
· May 1, 1997
CRANE, PHILIP
· May 1, 1997
DUNN, JENNIFER
· May 1, 1997
FROST, MARTIN
· May 1, 1997
GOSS, PORTER
· May 1, 1997
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · May 1, 1997
GREENWOOD, JAMES
· May 1, 1997
HOUGHTON, AMO
· May 1, 1997
LIPINSKI, WILLIAM
· May 1, 1997
QUINN, JACK
· May 1, 1997
STENHOLM, CHARLES
· May 1, 1997
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · May 1, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1515: Expansion of Portability and Health Insurance Coverage Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1515/
MLA
"H.R. 1515: Expansion of Portability and Health Insurance Coverage Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1515/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1515, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1515/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1515: Expansion of Portability and Health Insurance Coverage Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1515/)
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