Senate Approves Bill Extending COBRA, UI Benefits, Pension Relief Measures

U.S. Capitol BuildingOn Wednesday, the Senate passed by a 62 to 36 margin the Tax Extender Act of 2009 (H.R. 4213), legislation that would extend until Dec. 31, 2010 the 65% premium COBRA subsidies and emergency unemployment insurance benefits, both programs that are set to expire in the coming weeks. The bill also extends several other tax credit initiatives, and includes pension funding relief measures. On Tuesday, the Senate voted 66-34 to limit debate on this bill, which was introduced by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) as an amendment (S. Amdt. 3336) in the nature of a substitute to the tax extender bill the House of Representatives passed in December.

In addition to extending the premium COBRA subsidy until the end of the year, the bill makes certain technical changes to the program itself. Specifically, the bill makes the following clarifications, among others:

  • Adds a new section clarifying special rules in the case of individuals losing COBRA coverage due to a reduction in hours;
  • Clarifies the period of assistance; and
  • Adds a provision stating that the government or the individual may bring a civil action to enforce applicable provisions of this law, and provides that the Secretary may assess a penalty of up to $110 per day against a plan sponsor or health insurance issuer for each violation.

The Senate also approved by voice vote an amendment (S. Amdt. 3430) to the bill that aims to encourage employers to continue their defined benefit pension programs by providing temporary relief from statutory pension funding obligations. According to a press release issued by Sen. Isakson (R-GA) – who introduced the amendment with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) – the amendment would provide employers with two options “to spread out” their pension obligations:

Under the first option, employers would be able to repay their pension shortfall over seven years, but the seven-year amortization would start two years late. During the two-year delay period, the employer would only owe interest on the shortfall. Under the second option, employers would be able to pay back their pension shortfall over 15 years.

Employers electing to avail themselves of the “two and seven”, or 15-year relief plans would be required to abide by the “cash flow rule,” under which an employer must make an extra “matching” contribution equal to the amount by which any of its employees’ taxable compensation exceeds $1 million. An employer would also be required to contribute an amount equal to the “extraordinary dividends” paid during the year, and an amount equal to the aggregate fair market value of the “stock redeemed” during the year that exceeds the employer’s net income for accounting purposes.

Other pension funding relief measures are included in the bill, which, according to Sen. Baucus, are designed to provide temporary, targeted funding relief for single employer and multiemployer pension plans that suffered significant losses in asset value due to the 2008 market downturn.

The bill includes other tax credit measures, including an extension until Dec. 31, 2010 of an employer wage credit for employees who are active duty members of the uniformed services. This extension would provide eligible small business employers with a credit against income tax liability for a taxable year in an amount equal to 20 percent of the sum of differential wage payments to activated military reservists, up to $4,000, and be applicable to payments made after December 31, 2009. Other program extensions include one that provides a tax credit for employers of qualified employees that work or live on or near an Indian reservation, and an extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for qualifying employers that hire employees in the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina.

The measure will now need to be reconciled with the House bill and undergo a second round of approval before it can be signed into law.

Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.