Rep. Danny Marshall

Group health benefit plans; bona fide associations; formation of benefits consortium. Provides that certain trusts constitute a benefits consortium and are authorized to sell health benefit plans to members of a sponsoring association that (i) has been formed and maintained in good faith for purposes other than obtaining or providing health benefits; (ii) does not condition membership in the sponsoring association on any factor relating to the health status of an individual, including an employee of a member of the sponsoring association or a dependent of such an employee; (iii) makes any health benefit plan available to all members regardless of any factor relating to the health status of such members or individuals eligible for coverage through a member; (iv) does not make any health benefit plan available to any person who is not a member of the association; (v) makes available health plans or health benefit plans that meet requirements provided for in the bill; (vi) operates as a nonprofit entity under § 501(c)(5) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code; and (vii) has been in active existence for at least five years. The bill replaces references to "bona fide association," as used in provisions applicable to health care plans in the small employer market, with the term "sponsoring association."The bill requires any health benefit plan issued by a self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) that covers one or more employees of one or more small employers to (a) provide essential health benefits and cost-sharing requirements; (b) offer a minimum level of coverage designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 60 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan; (c) not limit or exclude coverage for an individual by imposing a preexisting condition exclusion on that individual; (d) be prohibited from establishing discriminatory rules based on health status related to eligibility or premium or contribution requirements as imposed on health carriers; (e) meet the renewability standards set forth for health insurance issuers; (f) establish base rates formed on an actuarially sound, modified community rating methodology that considers the pooling of all participant claims; and (g) utilize each employer member's specific risk profile to determine premiums by actuarially adjusting above or below established base rates, and utilize either pooling or reinsurance of individual large claimants to reduce the adverse impact on any specific employer member's premiums.The bill prohibits a self-funded MEWA from issuing health benefit plans in the Commonwealth until it has obtained a license pursuant to regulations promulgated by the State Corporation Commission. The bill authorizes the Commission to adopt regulations applicable to self-funded MEWAs, including regulations addressing financial condition, solvency requirements, and the exclusion of self-funded MEWAs from the Virginia Life, Accident and Sickness Insurance Guaranty Association. This bill is identical to SB 195.

Veteran-owned small businesses; waiving of fees. Directs the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, in conjunction with the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, to examine the waiving of fees associated with permits necessary to establish a small business for veteran-owned small businesses. This bill is identical to SB 572.

City of Martinsville; city reversion. Requires approval from the City of Martinsville voters before the city can revert to town status. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2026.

Business park electric transmission infrastructure pilot program; location of qualifying projects. Amends the definition of "business park" by adding that a business park may be established by a locality and by removing the requirement that a business park be located in an area of the Commonwealth designated as an opportunity zone by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury via his delegation of authority to the Internal Revenue Service. The bill also removes the requirement that the location of a qualifying project for an existing pilot program to promote economic development in the Commonwealth by allowing Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power to complete the construction phase of electric transmission infrastructure for up to three business parks prior to the public announcement of a prospective occupant of the business parks be in an opportunity zone and provides that such a qualifying project may be within a business park in Planning District 19.

Correctional facilities; work release programs. Directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to convene a work group to study inmate work release programs. The bill provides that the work group shall report its findings and recommendations to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Chairmen of the House Committee for Courts of Justice, House Committee on Public Safety, Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services, and Senate Committee on the Judiciary by December 1, 2022.

Virginia Stormwater Management Programs; regional industrial facility authorities. Authorizes a locality that administers a Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) or a Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program (VESMP) to administer such program of a regional industrial facility authority of which the locality is a member. The bill requires that such administration be conducted in accordance with an agreement entered into with all relevant localities and the existing VSMP or VESMP for the property.

Local land use approvals; extension of approvals to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Extends from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023, the sunset date for various local land use approvals that were valid and outstanding as of July 1, 2020. The bill also provides that its provisions shall not be construed to extend previous extensions related to the COVID-19 housing crisis. This bill is identical to SB 501.