HB 1219 -- Health Insurance

Sponsor:  Shields

This bill establishes the Small Business Health Insurance
Assistance Program to allow small employers a tax credit for
costs associated with health insurance premiums paid on behalf of
employees.  Small employers are those with two to 25 employees
who work at least 30 hours per week.  The bill also specifies
that a farmer's spouse may be considered a second eligible
employee if the spouse is hired by the farmer.  All eligible
small employers will receive a tax credit of 25% of the amount
paid annually in premiums for eligible employees.  A small
employer will receive higher credits for up to four years if the
employer does not pay its employees' health insurance premiums on
January 1, 2002, and begins to pay for its employees' premiums
after that date.  The tax credit is conditioned upon receiving
appropriations from general revenue or the tobacco settlement to
offset the costs of the tax credit to the state.  The aggregate
amount of tax credits awarded under the bill's provisions may not
exceed $10 million.

The bill has an expiration date of December 31, 2006.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:00 am