text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Student Health Insurance Portability 
  Protection Act of 1997''.
  
  SEC. 2. APPLYING HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY PROTECTIONS TO STUDENTS 
                UNDER COLLEGE-SPONSORED HEALTH PLANS.
  
      (a) In General.--Title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, as 
  added by section 102(a) of the Health Insurance Portability and 
  Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191), is amended by 
  inserting after section 2723 the following new section:
  
  ``SEC. 2724. APPLICATION OF PORTABILITY PROTECTIONS TO STUDENTS UNDER 
                COLLEGE-SPONSORED HEALTH PLANS.
  
      ``(a) In General.--Subject to the succeeding provisions of this 
  section, the provisions of subpart 1 shall apply to health insurance 
  coverage offered in connection with a college-sponsored health plan (as 
  defined in subsection (b)) in the same manner as they apply to health 
  insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan.
      ``(b) College-Sponsored Health Plan Defined.--For purposes of this 
  section, the term `college-sponsored health plan' means health benefits 
  offered by or through an institution of higher education (as defined in 
  section 481(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088(a))) 
  in relation to students at the institution, but does not include 
  benefits offered to such a student as a participant or beneficiary in a 
  group health plan.
      ``(c) Application of Exceptions, Enforcement, Preemption; 
  Definitions.--In applying subsection (a)--
              ``(1) subject to paragraph (2), the previous provisions of 
          this subpart shall apply in relation to such subsection in the 
          same manner as they apply in relation to subpart 1; and
              ``(2) in applying the other provisions of this title under 
          this section--
                      ``(A) any reference in such provisions to a group 
                  health plan is deemed a reference to a college-
                  sponsored health plan;
                      ``(B) any reference in such provisions to a 
                  participant or beneficiary in a group health plan is 
                  deemed a reference to an enrollee in a college-
                  sponsored health plan; and
                      ``(C) any reference in such provisions to an 
                  employee in relation to the group health plan is deemed 
                  a reference to a student in relation to the college-
                  sponsored health plan.''.
      (b) Clarification of Coverage Under College-Sponsored Health Plan 
  as Creditable Coverage.--
              (1) Amendment to public health service act.--Section 
          2701(c)(1)(B) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
          300gg(c)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting ``(including such 
          coverage under a college-sponsored health plan, as defined in 
          section 2724(b))'' after ``coverage''.
              (2) Amendment to employee retirement income security act of 
          1974.--Section 701(c)(1)(B) of the Employee Retirement Income 
          Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1181(c)(1)(B)) is amended by 
          inserting ``(including such coverage under a college-sponsored 
          health plan, as defined in section 2724(b) of the Public Health 
          Service Act)'' after ``coverage''.
              (3) Amendment to the internal revenue code of 1986.--
          Section 9801(c)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
          amended by inserting ``(including such coverage under a 
          college-sponsored health plan, as defined in section 2724(b) of 
          the Public Health Service Act)'' after ``coverage''.
      (c) Effective Date; Transition.--
              (1) Effective date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
          shall apply to coverage under college-sponsored health plans 
          for students matriculating or enrolling for periods beginning 
          on or after August 1, 1997, and the amendments made by 
          subsection (b) shall be effective as if included in the 
          enactment of the corresponding provisions in the Health 
          Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public 
          Law 104-191).
              (2) Crediting permitted for certain previous coverage.--
          Creditable coverage occurring on or after July 1, 1996, shall 
          be taken into account in applying section 2724(a) of the Public 
          Health Service Act.
              (3) Certifications, etc.--Insofar as the certification 
          requirements of section 2743 of the Public Health Service Act 
          are not otherwise applicable to health insurance coverage under 
          a college-sponsored health plan (as defined in subsection (b) 
          of section 2724 of such Act), subsection (e) of section 2701 of 
          the Public Health Service Act shall apply (as incorporated 
          under subsection (a) of such section 2724) to the issuer of 
          such coverage with respect to events occurring after April 7, 
          1997; but in no case is a certification required to be provided 
          under such section 2724 pursuant to such subsection (e) before 
          60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
target: Student Health Insurance Portability Protection Act of 1997 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to apply health insurance portability, access, and renewability requirements to coverage offered in connection with a college-sponsored health plan as they apply to a group health plan. 
  Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code to include coverage under a college-sponsored plan in the definition of "creditable coverage."
feat_title: Student Health Insurance Portability Protection Act of 1997