Bill > HR5891

This bill, the Defense Base Act Insurance Improvement Act of 2012, amends the Defense Base Act (the Act) to shift the responsibility for providing insurance and benefits for on-the-job injuries to defense contractors to a new Government self-insurance program. This means that instead of contractors securing private insurance, the government will directly cover these costs for injuries occurring after the program's effective date, which is one year after the bill becomes law. The Secretaries of Defense and Labor are tasked with jointly developing and implementing a strategy for this self-insurance program, which will be funded by the agencies whose contracts are affected. This strategy must address program administration, financing, claims processing, and a plan for transferring existing claims from private insurers. Furthermore, the Secretaries will report to Congress on this implementation strategy within 180 days of enactment and provide a comprehensive report on the program's implementation, including cost savings and benefit delivery, within two years.