Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 1.djvu/267

 PUBLIC LAW 99-272—APR. 7, 1986

100 STAT. 231

the covered employee shall be treated as notification to all other qualified beneficiaries residing with such spouse at the time such notification is made. "SEC. 607. DEFINITIONS. 29 USC 1167. "For purposes of this part— "(1) GROUP HEALTH PLAN.—The term 'group health plan' means an employee welfare benefit plan that is a group health plan (within the meaning of section 162(i)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954). 26 USC 162. "(2) COVERED EMPLOYEE.—The term 'covered employee' means an individual who is (or was) provided coverage under a group health plan by virtue of the individual's employment or previous employment with an employer. "(3) QUALIFIED BENEFICIARY.—

"(A) IN GENERAL.—The term 'qualified beneficiary' means, with respect to a covered employee under a group health plan, any other individual who, on the day before the qualifying event for that employee, is a beneficiary under the plan— "(i) as the spouse of the covered employee, or "(ii) as the dependent child of the employee. "(B)

SPECIAL RULE FOR TERMINATIONS AND REDUCED

EMPLOYMENT.—In the case of a qualifying event described in section 603(2), the term 'qualified beneficiary' includes the covered employee. "SEC. 608. REGULATIONS. 29 USC 1168. "The Secretary may prescribe regulations to carry out the provisions of this part.". (b) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE NOTICE.—Section 502(c) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1132(c)) is amended by inserting after "Any administrator" the following: "(1) who fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) or (4) of section 606 with respect to a participant or beneficiary, or (2)". (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents in section 1 of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 514 the following new items: "PART 6—CONTINUATION COVERAGE UNDER GROUP HEALTH PLANS

"Sec. "Sec. "Sec. "Sec. "Sec. "Sec. "Sec. "Sec.

601. Plans must provide continuation coverage to certain individuals. 602. Continuation coverage. 603. Qualifying event. 604. Applicable premium. 605. Election. 606. Notice requirements. 607. Definitions. 608. Regulations.".

(d) EFFECTIVE D A T E S. —

29 USC

(1) GENERAL RULE.—The amendments made by this section ^°^^shall apply to plan years beginning on or after July 1, 1986. (2) SPECIAL RULE FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.—

In the case of a group health plan maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements between employee representatives and one or more employers ratified before the date of the enactment of this Act, the amendments made by this section shall not apply to plan years beginning before the later of—

1161

�