SB 756 - This act 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 act 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, 2004, 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 act has an expiration date of December 31, 2008.

This act is substantially similar to SB 95 (2003) and HB 1219 (2002).
STEPHEN WITTE