United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 660 (108th)
Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003
Introduced
11 February 2003
Last action
20 June 2003 · Introduced
Status
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sponsors
Rep. Fletcher, Ernie [R-KY-6], Rep. Johnson, Sam [R-TX-3], Rep. Dooley, Calvin M. [D-CA-20], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rescom. Acevedo-Vila, Anibal [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Akin, W. Todd [R-MO-2], Rep. Baca, Joe [D-CA-43], Rep. Ballenger, Cass [R-NC-10], Rep. Beauprez, Bob [R-CO-7], Rep. Biggert, Judy [R-IL-13], Rep. Boehner, John A. [R-OH-8], Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31], Del. Christensen, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large], Rep. Collins, Mac [R-GA-3], Rep. Costello, Jerry F. [D-IL-12], Rep. Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [D-AL-5], Rep. Cunningham, Randy (Duke) [R-CA-50], Rep. Davis, Jo Ann [R-VA-1], Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC], Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-26], Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2], Rep. Everett, Terry [R-AL-2], Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8], Rep. Fossella, Vito [R-NY-13], Rep. Gillmor, Paul E. [R-OH-5], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6], Rep. Gonzalez, Charles A. [D-TX-20], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Granger, Kay [R-TX-12], Rep. Greenwood, James C. [R-PA-8], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Hart, Melissa A. [R-PA-4], Rep. Hastert, J. Dennis [R-IL-14], Rep. Herger, Wally [R-CA-2], Rep. Houghton, Amo [R-NY-31], Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA], Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48], Rep. Jenkins, William L. [R-TN-1], Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3], Rep. Keller, Ric [R-FL-8], Rep. Kelly, Sue W. [R-NY-19], Rep. Kennedy, Mark R. [R-MN-6], Rep. Kolbe, Jim [R-AZ-8], Rep. Lucas, Ken [D-KY-4]
Subjects
Healthcare, Taxation
Source updated
23 March 2026
Summary
Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise provisions relating to access and choice for small business employers with respect to medical care for their employees. Establishes rules governing association health plans (group health plans whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations), including requirements relating to certification, sponsors and boards of trustees, participation, coverage, plan documents, contribution rates, benefit options, applications for certification, notice for voluntary termination, corrective actions, and mandatory termination. Requires association health plans which provide health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage to maintain certain reserves and comply with other solvency provisions. Directs the Secretary of Labor to apply for appointment, and carry out specified duties, as trustee of any such insolvent association health plans which provide health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage. Allows a State to impose a contribution tax on any association health plan commencing operations in such State after the enactment of this Act. Requires association health plans to include in their summary plan descriptions, in connection with each benefit option, a description of the form of any solvency or guarantee fund protection secured under ERISA or applicable State law. Revises provisions relating to treatment of: (1) single employer arrangements; and (2) certain collectively bargained arrangements. Provides for association health plans with respect to: (1) enforcement; (2) cooperation between Federal and State authorities; and (3) treatment of certain existing health benefit programs.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
11 February 2003
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Source: IntroReferral
11 February 2003
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
11 February 2003
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
13 March 2003
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
13 March 2003
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Source: Committee
8 April 2003
Vote
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 13 - 8.
Source: Committee
8 April 2003
Committee
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
12 June 2003
Vote
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 21.
Source: Committee
12 June 2003
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
16 June 2003
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 78.
Source: Calendars
16 June 2003
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 108-156.
Source: Committee
16 June 2003
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 108-156.
Source: Committee
18 June 2003
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 283 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 660 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The amendment recommended by the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order.
Source: Floor
19 June 2003
Floor
Mrs. McCarthy (NY) moved to recommit with instructions to Education and Labor. (consideration: CR H5636-5637; text: CR H5636)
Source: Floor
19 June 2003
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
19 June 2003
Vote
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 262 - 162 (Roll no. 296). (text: CR H5598-5604)
Source: Floor
19 June 2003
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 262 - 162 (Roll no. 296).(text: CR H5598-5604)
Source: Floor
19 June 2003
Vote
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 192 - 230 (Roll no. 295).
Source: Floor
19 June 2003
Floor
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Source: Floor
19 June 2003
Floor
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 660 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The amendment recommended by the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order.
Source: Floor
19 June 2003
Reported
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 283. (consideration: CR H5597-5638; text of measure as reported: CR H5598-5604)
Source: Floor
19 June 2003
Passed
Rule H. Res. 283 passed House.
Source: Floor
20 June 2003
Introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Source: IntroReferral
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Referred in Senate · 20 June 2003 · Download file
- Engrossed in House · 19 June 2003 · Download file
- Reported in House · 16 June 2003 · Download file
- Introduced in House · 11 February 2003 · Download file
Documents
11 official files
Referred in Senate (text)
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Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN · 20 June 2003
Referred in Senate (PDF)
Referred in Senate · EN · 20 June 2003
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 19 June 2003
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Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 19 June 2003
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 19 June 2003
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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 16 June 2003
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Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 16 June 2003
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Reported to House with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 16 June 2003
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 11 February 2003
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 11 February 2003
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 11 February 2003
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Rep. Fletcher, Ernie [R-KY-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Johnson, Sam [R-TX-3] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Dooley, Calvin M. [D-CA-20] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] · D · Sponsor
- Rescom. Acevedo-Vila, Anibal [D-PR-At Large] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Akin, W. Todd [R-MO-2] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Baca, Joe [D-CA-43] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Ballenger, Cass [R-NC-10] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Beauprez, Bob [R-CO-7] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Biggert, Judy [R-IL-13] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Boehner, John A. [R-OH-8] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] · R · Sponsor
- Del. Christensen, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Collins, Mac [R-GA-3] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Costello, Jerry F. [D-IL-12] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [D-AL-5] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Cunningham, Randy (Duke) [R-CA-50] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Davis, Jo Ann [R-VA-1] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-26] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Everett, Terry [R-AL-2] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Fossella, Vito [R-NY-13] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Gillmor, Paul E. [R-OH-5] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Gonzalez, Charles A. [D-TX-20] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Granger, Kay [R-TX-12] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Greenwood, James C. [R-PA-8] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Hart, Melissa A. [R-PA-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Hastert, J. Dennis [R-IL-14] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Herger, Wally [R-CA-2] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Houghton, Amo [R-NY-31] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Jenkins, William L. [R-TN-1] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Keller, Ric [R-FL-8] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Kelly, Sue W. [R-NY-19] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Kennedy, Mark R. [R-MN-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Kolbe, Jim [R-AZ-8] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Lucas, Ken [D-KY-4] · D · Sponsor
Showing 48 of 171 sponsors and actors.
Related records
- related to → Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 660) to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees.
- related to ← Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004
- related to ← Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003
- amends ← HAMDT 175
- amends ← An amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in House Report 108-160 to Require the Department of Labor to establish a Small Employer Health Benefits Plan (SEHB) similar to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHB). All employers with fewer than 100 employees during the previous calendar year shall be eligible to apply for coverage under SEHB. Employers must offer coverage to all employees who have completed 3 months of service. Employees working fewer than 30 hours a week are eligible for pro rata coverage. Requires the Secretary to establish an initial open enrollment period and thereafter an annual enrollment period. Requires the Department of Labor to annually contract with state licensed health insurers to offer health insurance coverage in a state. Participating insurers shall remain subject to state laws applicable to the states in which they cover residents.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/660
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/108/hr/660
- us · 108-hr-660 · source updated 23 March 2026