33-22-2008. Registration -- funding limitations -- transfers -- maximum number -- waiting list -- information transfer for tax credits. (1) (a) Each eligible small employer that proposes to apply for premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments or a tax credit under this part must be registered each year with the commissioner. The commissioner shall begin taking new applications for 2006 on October 1, 2005.
     (b) An eligible small employer may submit a new application for the premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments or the tax credit anytime during the year, but in order to maintain the employer's registration for the next year, the registration application must be renewed each year.
     (c) The commissioner shall begin accepting renewal applications on October 1 of each year and stop accepting renewal applications on October 31 of each year.
     (d) The registration application must include the number of individuals covered, as of the date of the registration application, under the small group health plan for which the employer is seeking premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments or a tax credit. If, after the initial registration, the number of individuals increases, the employer may apply to register the additional individuals, but those additional individuals may be added only at the discretion of the commissioner, who shall limit enrollment based on available funds.
     (e) A small employer is not eligible to apply for premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments or a tax credit for a number of employees, or the employees' spouses or dependents, over the number that has been established in 33-22-2006 as the maximum number of employees an employer may have in order to qualify for registration for the time period in question.
     (f) An employer's decision to apply for premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments or a tax credit is irrevocable for 12 months or until the purchasing pool group health plan or qualified association health plan renews its registration, whichever time period is less. An employer may choose to discontinue receiving any premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments or tax credits at any time.
     (2) The commissioner shall register qualifying eligible small employers in the order in which applications are received and according to whether or not the application is for premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments or a tax credit. Initially, 60% of the available funding must be dedicated to provide and maintain premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments for eligible small employers who have not sponsored group health plans in the previous 2 years and who chose to join the purchasing pool or a qualified association health plan and 40% of the available funding must be dedicated to tax credits for eligible small employers who currently sponsor a small group health plan. Funding may be transferred from the allocated fund for premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments to the general fund for tax credits if the board requests the transfer as provided in 33-22-2004 and the commissioner approves the request.
     (3) (a) The maximum number of eligible small employers is reached when the anticipated amount of claims for premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments and tax credits has reached 95% of the amount of money allocated for premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments and tax credits.
     (b) The commissioner may establish a waiting list for applicants that are otherwise qualified for registration but cannot be registered because of a lack of money or because the maximum number of eligible small employers has been reached.
     (c) The commissioner shall mail to each employer registered under this section a notice of registration containing a unique registration number and indicating eligibility for either premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments or a tax credit. The commissioner shall also issue to each employer that is eligible for premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments or the tax credit a certificate, placard, sticker, or other evidence of participation that may be publicly posted.
     (d) The commissioner shall notify all persons who applied for registration and who were not accepted that they were not registered and the reason that they were not registered.
     (4) A prospective participant shall apply for registration on a form provided by the commissioner. The prospective participant shall:
     (a) provide the number of employees and whether the employer qualifies under 33-22-2006;
     (b) provide information that is necessary to estimate the amount of the premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments payable to the applicant or the amount of the tax credit available to the applicant, such as the ages of employees or dependents, relationships of employees' dependents, and information required by the department of public health and human services for determination of eligibility for premium assistance payments matched by federal funds;
     (c) indicate whether the prospective employer intends to pursue the claim as a tax credit through the income tax process or through premium incentive payments and premium assistance payments to be applied toward purchasing pool or eligible qualified association health plan coverage;
     (d) indicate whether or not the employer previously sponsored a group health plan and, if so, when and for how long; and
     (e) provide any additional information determined by the commissioner to be necessary to support an application.
     (5) Each year, small employer participants shall reregister with the commissioner in order to determine the participant's continued eligibility.
     (6) The commissioner shall transmit to the department of revenue, at least annually, a list of eligible small employers that are taxpayers entitled to the tax credit and shall specify the taxpayer's name and tax identification number, the tax year to which the credit applies, the amount of the credit, and whether the credit is to be applied against taxes due on the taxpayer's return or paid as premium incentive payments or premium assistance payments. Unless there has been a finding of fraud or misrepresentation on the part of the taxpayer regarding issues relating to eligibility for the tax credit, the department of revenue may not redetermine or change the commissioner's determination regarding the taxpayer's entitlement to and amount of the tax credit.
     (7) If the department of public health and human services receives approval for a section 1115 waiver as provided in 53-2-216, the commissioner shall work with the department of public health and human services with regard to eligibility determinations as required by federal law or waiver conditions.

     History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 595, L. 2005.