Assembly approves Rep. Casimiro and Sen. Ciccone’s legislation protecting workers’ access to health insurance coverage

 

            STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly today passed legislation (2024-H 7795B, 2024-S 2901B) sponsored by Rep. Julie A. Casimiro and Sen. Frank A. Ciccone that prohibits contractors and subcontractors from paying employees the cash equivalent of any applicable health care benefit in lieu of actually purchasing the health care benefit.

            “This piece of legislation is about ensuring that employees receive the critical benefits that they are rightfully owed.  If health insurance is part of an employees benefit package, then the employer must provide that coverage.  Anything less is unacceptable.  This bill will protect employees from employers who are trying to circumvent their labor agreements and it will keep our employees supported and healthy through vital and promised health insurance coverage,” said Representative Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter).

            “If a contractor is promised health benefits, they deserve those benefits and the cash equivalent of the cost of those benefits will do nothing to support and protect the health of the contractor.  There’s a reason why unscrupulous employers try offering cash instead of health care benefits and it’s because it saves them time and money and this practice is in no way for the benefit of the employee.  This bill will end this scam and protect employees from this shameful practice,” said Senator Ciccone (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston).

            Beginning on July 1, 2024, the legislation states that a contractor or subcontractor is not permitted to make a payment of the cash equivalent of any applicable health care benefit directly to the employee in lieu of actually purchasing the health care benefit for the employee for the applicable time period. The contractor or subcontractor must actually purchase the health care benefit for the employee for the covered period of time from a licensed third-party health care provider.

            An exemption would be provided for any employee currently receiving a health care benefit because of their relationship as a child, spouse or domestic partner of a covered person and for any employee who is employed on a “short term basis,” which would mean a period of 90 days or less.

            The contractor or subcontractor must provide proof of purchase for the health care benefit to the employee and the employee’s bargaining agent, if applicable. 

            Any contractor or subcontractor who fails to comply with the requirements would be required to pay a civil penalty to the director of Labor and Training in an amount of not less than $1,000 and not greater than $3,000 per violation. Penalties would be recoverable in a civil action pursuant to the legislation by the director of Labor and Training.

            Any employee or bargaining agent who has been aggrieved by the failure of a contractor or subcontractor to actually purchase the health care benefit for employees and provide the employee and/or their bargaining agent with proof of purchase under the legislation would be able to pursue a private right of action, as well.

            The bill now heads to the governor for consideration.

 

 

 

President Trump is doubtful Europe can bring an end to the Iran-Israeli conflict. Speaking from New Jersey today, Trump threw cold water on the meeting today between Iran's foreign minister and top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany in Geneva. He went on to contradict his intelligence community's claims about Iran's nuke capabilities, saying they can develop a bomb much sooner than reported.        A heat dome is threatening over 200 million Americans with extreme heat. Extreme heat watches, warnings and advisories are already in effect for parts of the Southwest, Rockies, Plains, Upper Midwest, and Northeast. Extreme humidity will hit the Gulf Coast through western Minnesota.        Mahmoud Khalil is free. A federal judge on Friday ordered the Columbia University grad student be released on bail. Khalil had been detained for three months after the White House said he's an anti-Semitic Hamas supporter who should be deported. He was the first of a number of students who ended up being taken into custody over pro-Palestinian protests.        Harvard can keep enrolling international students. A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction that halts the Trump administration's withdrawal of the University's ability to host the students. The injunction prevents the White House's revocation of the school's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification until the judge makes a decision on a lawsuit brought by Harvard. However, the judge didn't address Trump's entry ban on holders of Harvard-sponsored visas.        A federal appeals court is blocking a law in Louisiana that mandates the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms of public schools and colleges. The ruling upholds a lower court decision from November that declared the law as "facially unconstitutional." The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of parents in Louisiana.        "28 Years Later" and Pixar's "Elio" are already raking in millions at the box office. The third film in the zombie franchise made five-point-eight-million from Thursday previews, while "Elio" brought in three-million-dollars last night. "28 Years Later" is projected to make between 28 and 30-million-dollars in its first weekend, while the latest Pixar movie is expected to collect between 25 and 30-million.