[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE ASK SENATE RESIDENT KAREN FANN ABOUT THE SENATE'S ONGOING AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION BALLOTS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, A WORKSHOP TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO BE BILINGUAL JOURNALISTS, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE PREVALENCE OF CASES INVOLVING MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA'S SLOW BUT STEADY INCREASE IN CASES OF COVID-19 CONTINUE TODAY WITH 742 NEW CASES REPORTED.

THE STATE'S DAILY AVERAGE IS NOW UP OVER 20% IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

IT'S NOT A SURGE, BUT IT IS A CONCERN.

>> WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WE HAVE THE SECOND LARGEST INCREASE IN THE COUNTRY IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS THAT HELPED US IN JULY AND JANUARY.

EVEN THOUGH MASK RESTRICTIONS MAY NOT BE IN PLACE, I COULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IF YOU ARE IN DOORS AROUND PEOPLE YOU ARE NOT LIVING WITH, TO WEAR YOUR MASKS AND MAINTAIN YOUR DISTANCE, AND CERTAINLY TO GET VACCINATED.

>> AND VACCINES WERE MADE MORE AVAILABLE TODAY WITH CVS PHARMACY ANNOUNCING IT IS ACCEPTING WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS, BUT FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR AS SOON AS AN HOUR AHEAD OF TIME THAT CAN BE DONE ON THEIR WEBSITE.

>>> INDIA COULD REACH A MILLION COVID DEATHS.

>> WE ARE COLLECTING DATA RIGHT NOW IN REAL TIME, AND HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS TO A WEEK, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT THE EFFECT OF ANTIBODIES WITH OUR VACCINES ARE AGAINST THAT VARIANT.

>> THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REPORTS THANK DEA "ED FOR ONE-QUARTER OF ALL COVID-19 DEATHS LAST WEEK.

>>> THE STATE SENATE'S AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY PRESIDENTIAL AND U.S. SENATE VOTES, CONTINUES TODAY.

ONLY 200,000 OF THE 2.1 MILES PER HOUR BALLOTS HAVE BEEN COUNTED SO FAR.

WHICH MEANS IT COULD GO ON FOR MONTHS.

WE'LL ASK SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN ABOUT THAT AND MORE IN JUST A MOMENT.

>>> THE CDC'S MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS WAS RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL TODAY.

THE FEDERAL JUDGE SAID THE CDC NEVER HAD THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE THE MORATORIUM.

THE CDC MORATORIUM IS STILL IN PLACE IN ARIZONA AT LEAST AS OF NOW.

>>> AND FACEBOOK'S BAN ON DONALD TRUMP WAS UPHELD TODAY BY THE INDEPENDENT BOARD.

THE BOARD GAVE FACEBOOK SIX MONTHS TO CLARIFY TRUMP'S PUNISHMENT FOR WHAT THE BOARD AGREED WAS TRUMP'S DANGEROUS RETD RICK ON THE DAY OF THE JANUARY 6TH, CAPITOL RIOT.

>>> TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

OUR GUEST, SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN.

OUR FOCUS, THE CONTROVERSIAL BALLOT AUDIT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING SO FAR?

>> I WAS HOPING THEY WOULD BE A LITTLE FURTHER ALODGE, BUT ALL IN ALL, YES, IT'S A HUGE UNDERTAKING, AND I THINK THEY ARE DOING PRETTY GOOD CONSIDERING ALL OF THE FACTIONS GOING ON.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT A FORMER LAWMAKER IS AMONG THOSE LOOKING OVER THE BALLOTS.

>> THE SENATE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHO IS THERE.

THEY HAD A SELECTION TEAM THAT DID THE BACKGROUND CHECKS.

I'M NOT SURE WHY HE IS THERE, OR HOW HE GOT THERE, BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO RUZ SELECTED, AND SO THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A GREAT THING, BUT HE IS A CITIZEN, HE IS A VOTER, AND IT IS WHAT IS IT.

>> BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT CONCERNS YOU TO A CERTAIN POINT.

>> IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE MORE DISTRACTIONS FROM THE AUDIT.

I JUSTING WANT TO GET THROUGH THIS, AND THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DISTRACTIONS MAKES IT EASIER FOR US.

>> THEY ARE OPERATING AS MEDIA OUTSIDE OF THE POOL COVERAGE.

IS THAT A CONCERN TO YOU CONSIDERING, AGAIN, THESE -- THEY ARE SAYING THEY ARE MEDIA, BUT THESE ARE PRO-TRUMP OUTLETS HERE.

>> SO, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO, TO THE GATEWAY PUNDIT.

I WILL WALK ABOUT OAN.

THEY HAVE COVERED THIS FROM THE BEGINNING.

THEY ARE ONE OF THE FIRMS THAT CAME IN RIGHT OFF THE BAT AND SAID WE WILL HELP DO ALL OF THE 24-HOUR VIDEOING, SO EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THIS 24-7.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT IS A BAD IDEA.

IF ANOTHER NEWS NETWORK SAID THAT FIRST, WE WOULD HAVE GONE WITH THEM.

>> BUT YET MEDIA HAD TO GET A COURT ORDER TO HAVE ACCESS.

>> NOT EXACTLY.

WE WERE TRYING TO INCLUDE THE MEDIA AND DO IT IN A METHODICAL WAY.

SO WE REALLY HAD TO WORK THROUGH IT WITH THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE MEDIA CORPORATIONS AS WELL AS FOR OUR SIDE AND SAY, LOOK, WE WANT YOU THERE, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE A HUNDRED OF YOU AND IT BEING A THREE-RING CIRCUS, SO WE TRIED VERY, VERY HARD TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THIS SO THERE IS ACCESS WITHOUT IT GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.

WHAT YOU ARE NOT HEARING, FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD, THERE WAS A MEDIA GUY THAT SNUCK OVER TO A LOOKED DOOR AND PROPPED IT OPEN TO LET ANOTHER GUY IN.

AND TWITTER SAID, TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO, OH, YEAH, WE WERE ABLE TO GET IN BECAUSE WE PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE SECURITY GUARD, AND I'M LIKE WAIT A MINUTE, ISN'T THAT LIKE TRESPASSING.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE HAD TO SPENDING MONEY FOR HIRE OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS IN UNIFORM BECAUSE WE NEED SOMEBODY TO HAVE ARREST AUTHORITY.

>> NO SUCH CONCERNS, THOUGH, FOR THE OAN NETWORK?

>> NO.

>> CYBER-NINJAS WERE CHOSEN TO LEAD THE AUDIT.

WHY WERE THEY CHOSEEN?

>> WELL, WE SPENT HUNDREDS OF HOURS INTERVIEWING AND TRACKING.

I CAN'T OPEN UP THE YELLOW PAGES AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HERE ARE FORENSIC AUDITORS.

THEY ARE JUST NOT THERE.

TO LITERALLY IT WAS TALKING TO OTHER SENATORS AND STATES AND THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION, TALKING TO EVERYBODY, AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE MORE I ASKED QUESTIONS, PEOPLE STARTED CALLING ME AND SAYING HEY, HAVE YOU CHECKED THESE GUYS OUT, OR WE'RE WORKING ON AN AUDIT IN COLORADO OR NEW MEXICO, INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DONE IT, SO IT WAS TRULY A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT FINALLY LEAD TO THIS.

AND EXCEPT FOR ONE FIRM -- AND THEIR BID WAS LIKE $8.2 MILLION, BUT THEY WORK ON A FEDERAL LEVEL, WAY MORE THAN WE NEEDED, BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER COME PLEAT PACKAGE DEALS, AND CYBER-NINJAS WAS THE ONE THAT CAME THROUGH AND PUT THE THING TOGETHER, BECAUSE THERE ARE MULTIPLE PHASES TO THIS.

THEY HAVE A SMALL PART OF THE TOTAL AUDIT, BUT THEY ARE THE PRIMARY CONTRACTOR.

THE MASTER AGREEMENT WAS WITH THEM.

BUT THEY HAVE THREE OTHER FIRMS THAT ARE DOING THIS, AND THESE OTHER THREE FIRMS, THEY HAVE WORKED FOR HOMELAND SECURITY, AND NUMEROUS AUDITS BEFORE, UNFORTUNATELY THE MEDIA ONLY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT CYBER-NINJAS, NOT THE OTHER THREE CONTRACTORS.

EXCEPT FOR THIS MORNING IN THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC," THEY COVERED THAT THIS MORNING.

>> BUT THE LEAD CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL IN SAYING THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND ALL OF THIS CONSPIRACY STUFF.

YOU DO UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED OVER THIS?

>> PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE CONCERNED.

WE ARE BEING THREATENED TO BE SUED BY THE DEMOCRATS ON A DAILY LEVEL.

THEY TALK ABOUT CONSPIRACY THEORIES, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, THERE IS ALMOST LIKE A REVERSE CONSPIRACY THEORY NOW IN TRYING TO DEMEAN THIS AUDIT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST CAN'T GETTING REPORTED ENOUGH.

THIS ELECTION IS NOT ABOUT TRUMP.

IT'S NOT ABOUT OVERTURNING THE ELECTION OR THE ELECTORS, OR ANYBODY ELSE.

THIS IS ABOUT 48% OF THE VOTERS IN ARIZONA HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY SO, FOR WHATEVER REASON.

AND THEY DESERVE ANSWERS.

THEY DESERVE TO KNOW WE HAVE A GOOD ELECTORAL SYSTEM.

ADRIAN FONTES IS NOT GOING TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS, NOR IS KATIE HOBBS.

THIS IS WHAT THE SENATE DOES.

WE MAKE SURE LAWS ARE BEING FOLLOWED.

AND IF THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED OR TWEAKED, WE NEED TO DO THAT.

SO WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY THINK ARE THERE, THAT ARE PERCEIVED THERE, AND QUITE HONESTLY, I HOPE WE DON'T FIND ANYTHING SERIOUS.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO FIND IRREGULARITIES, THAT IS GOING TO SAY THIS MANY DEAD PEOPLE VOTED OR THIS MANY PEOPLE VOTED THAT DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE.

MAYBE WE CAN PROVE THAT SO WE CAN FIX THE HOLES THAT ARE THERE.

BUT I HOPE THERE IS NO FRAUD THERE.

I DON'T EVEN LIKE USING THE WORD, BECAUSE THAT WOULD TRULY SHAKE OF GROUND OF EVERYTHING WE BELIEVE IN, IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

BUT IF -- AND I MEAN A BIG IF, THERE IS, IT WILL BE TURNED OVER TO CLOSE THOSE LOOPHOLES.

>> YOU SAID THIS WAS NOT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT HERE.

IT'S PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VOTES AND THE U.S. SENATE VOTES.

WHY THOSE VOTES?

>> SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, FIRST OF ALL THIS IS A HUGE UNDERTAKING ITSELF, JUST DOING THE PRESIDENTIAL AND THE -- AND THE SENATE RACES, THE STATE SENATE RACES.

IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO ANY OF THE CONGRESSIONAL, BECAUSE REMEMBER OUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE NOT JUST MARICOPA COUNTY, AND WE'RE ONLY AUDITING MARICOPA COUNTY, SO LITERALLY WE WOULD HAVE TO AUDIT A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES TO INCLUDE THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, BECAUSE WE OVERLAP, SO IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE MONEY IT IS TAKING, WE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PRESIDENTIAL AND THE SENATE ONES.

PART OF THAT WHOLE PRESIDENTIAL -- AGAIN, I DON'T CARE IF THE TWO CANDIDATES WERE CLINTON AND BUSH OR ANYBODY ELSE.

THIS IS ABOUT AN ELECTION SYSTEM THAT PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT, AND TO GET THE CONFIDENCE BACK IN WITH OUR VOTERS THAT THEY CAN COME TO THE POLLS, VOTE, AND KNOW 100% SURE IT IS SAFE AND SECURE.

>> AND REAL QUICKLY, BEFORE THE PRESIDENT SAID IT WAS FRAUD AND STILL HASN'T AGREED THAT JOE BIDEN IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BEFORE THIS -- WE NEVER WENT THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

IF PEOPLE ARE UP SET ABOUT THIS AND WORRIED ABOUT THIS, WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR?

WHERE IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL?

WE KNOW WHERE THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS.

THESE ARE THE LEADERS OF THE STATE, AND THEY ARE SAYING THERE IS NO PROBLEM, OR THEY ARE NOT SAYING THERE IS.

LAST QUESTION, I KNOW YOU ARE A BUSY WOMAN.

IF YOU HAD TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN, WOULD YOU DO IT?

>> YES.

I CAN TELL YOU, I HAVE TAKEN SO MANY DARTS.

I HAVE SEEN MORE FOUR-LETTER WORDS, BUT I HAVE ALSO RECEIVED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF EMAILS OF PEOPLE SAYING THANK YOU.

WE JUST WANT OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

AND IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT, WHO IS?

ADRIAN FONTES IS NOT GOING TO DO IT.

KATIE HOBBS CAN'T GOING TO DO IT.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ONLY GETS INVOLVED IF SOMETHING IS DISCOVERED.

>> BUT THIS WAS ALREADY LOOKED AT, AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, FIRST OF ALL WHEN THIS FIRST THING STARTED WITHIN FOUR DAYS I REACHED OUT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND I SAID YOU GUYS NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS.

YOU NEED TO AUDIT A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN THIS 2%, BECAUSE I CAN TELL IT IS GOING TO GET REALLY, REALLY BAD.

THEN WE GO TO FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS OF LAWSUITS.

THEY FINAL AGREED WE'RE GOING TO DO A FORENSIC AUDIT.

THEY PICKED TWO FIRMS THAT -- TO DO THEIR AUDITS, QUOTE, THAT ARE NOT FORENSIC AUDITS.

THOSE ARE FIRMS THAT ARE ONLY AUTHORIZED TO CERTIFY THE MACHINES.

AND PRO B&B IS THE COMPANY THAT DID THE MACHINES TO BEGIN WITH.

SO THAT IS BY FAR NOT A FORENSIC AUDIT.

WHEN THEY CAME OUT OF EXSEC SESSION AND SAID THESE ARE THE TWO FIRMS, AND SLI, I CALLED THEM, AND THEY WOULDN'T EVEN TALK TO ME.

SAID THEY OUR CONTRACTOR IS MARICOPA COUNTY.

WE ONLY ANSWER TO THEM.

BUT ON THE OTHER ONES WHEN THEY REACHED BACK OUT, I SAID THESE TWO ARE NOT GOING TO WORK, AND THESE ARE NOT FORENSIC AUDITS.

I SAID LET'S JOINTLY PICK A FORENSIC AUDIT TEAM, AND I HAVE LEARNED A LOT SINCE THEN THAT IT IS NOT AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS, BUT LET'S JOINTLY DO THAT.

I SAID LET'S PICK ONE, AND THE SENATE WILL PAY FOR IT.

AND THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, NO, WE'RE STICKING WITH OUR TWO, AND YOU ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO STEP FOOT IN OUR BUILDING.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, YOU HAVE TO FIND A PLACE AND KEEP IT SECURE, SO IT HAS SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF TIME WHEN I WISH WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS JOINTLY AND SAFELY WITH EACH OTHER.

IT IS SAFE, BUT I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT WE DO IT JOINTLY TOGETHER, SO WE ARE OVERSEEING EACH OTHER.

>> PRESIDENT FANN, YOU KEEP SAYING SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED DOUBTS AND CONCERN, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THOSE WHO EXPRESS DOUBT AND CONCERN, THAT THE INTEGRITY IS LONG LOST, AND THESE BALLOTS HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED?

>> I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE MEDIA, A LOT OF THE MEDIA HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON EVERY LITTLE TINY THING.

NOW, THERE ARE TINY LITTLE THINGS.

MAYBE CYBER-NINJAS DID TWEAK SOMETHING.

WHEN I ASKED, I SAID, DID YOU CHECK TO SEE ANY PAST TWEAK THAT PRO B&B OR SLI DID?

AND THEY SAID NO.

SO THEIR OWNERS OR EMPLOYEES COULD HAVE TWEETED THE SAME THING.

AND THEY SAID, NO, WE DIDN'T CHECK ON THEM.

EVERYBODY IS HAMMERING DOWN ON CYBER-NINJAS, BECAUSE OUR MASTER CONTRACT IS WITH THEM, BUT WHY AREN'T WE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER THREE.

LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE MORE SECURITY DOWN THERE THAN MARICOPA COUNTY EVER HAD AT THEIRS, BUT IT NEVER SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN, WE DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS.

>> YOU BET.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME >>> UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, RECENT CHANGES TO A HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.

>>> COBRA IS A HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS FOR CONTINUED HEALTH COVERAGE TO EMPLOYEES WHO LOST THEIR JOBS OR ARE SEEN A REDUCTION IN HOURS.

CHANGES HAVE NOW GONE INTO EFFECT.

AND WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THAT FROM KRISTI LUNDSTROM-HILL OF THE LAW FIRM FENNEMORE-CRAIG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

CHANGES WITH COBRA JUST WENT INTO EFFECT.

AND THESE CHANGES WILL GO UNTIL LIKE SEPTEMBER 30TH, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, TRUE?

>> CORRECT, YES.

>> WHAT IS COBRA, AND WHAT ARE THESE THANKS?

>> COBRA IS A FEDERAL LAW THAT WAS INTENDED TO GIVE EMPLOYEES WHO LOSE EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH COVERAGE, YOU COULD ELECT COBRA, WHICH WOULD LET YOU STAY ON THE HEALTH PLAN, BUT YOU WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE FULL COST OF THE PREMIUM.

IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE, BUT DOES ALLOW AN EMPLOYEE TO MAINTAIN COVERAGE.

BUT THE MAXIMUM PERIOD FOR COBRA IS 18 MONTHS THOUGH.

AND THE SUBSIDY REQUIRES EMPLOYERS TO PAY THE COST OF THAT COBRA COVERAGE FOR A CERTAIN GROUP OF EMPLOYEES, AND THE EMPLOYERS ARE THEN LATER REIMBURSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO IT IS INTENDED TO HELP EMPLOYEES WHO MAY HAVE LOST HEALTH COVERAGE IN THE LAST APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS.

>> SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO KEEP PAYING THOSE INSURANCE PREMIUMS, AND THE EMPLOYERS, WHAT, IN TERMS OF A TAX CREDIT, IS THAT HOW THEY GET THIS SUBSIDIZED?

>> RIGHT.

THE EMPLOYER WILL RECEIVE THE REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THEIR QUARTERLY TAX REPORTING.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY WILL GET IT BACK, INCLUDING A REFUND IF THEIR OBLIGATIONS ARE LESS THAN THEIR SUBSIDIES.

>> AND THIS IS PART OF THE LATEST STIMULUS PLAN?

>> YEAH.

>> SO IF SOMEONE LOSING THEIR JOB PRE-APRIL 1ST, AND SOMEONE LOSES THEIR JOB POST-APRIL 1ST IS THERE A DIFFERENCE THERE?

>> SOMEWHAT.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY, YOU COULD LOSE HEALTH COVERAGE IF YOU REDUCE YOUR HOURS ENOUGH.

SO THIS APPLIES TO PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLUNTARILY TERMINATED OR PEOPLE WHO REDUCED THEIR HOURS SO THEY LOST COVERAGE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE WAS TERMINATED IN APRIL, THEY WOULD HAVE A 60-DAY PERIOD TO ELECT COBRA, AND THE EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUBSIDY.

BUT SOMEONE WHO TERMINATED OR REDUCED THEIR HOURS SAY A YEAR AGO, IS ALSO GOING TO RECEIVE A SPECIAL NOTICE THAT TELLS THEM THEY HAVE A NEW SPECIAL-ELECTION PERIOD FOR COBRA.

SO THEY CAN HAVE A NEW 60-DAY PERIOD TO ELECT COBRA, RETROACTIVE TO APRIL 1ST, 2021.

SO THEY CAN JUMP BACK ON COBRA AND GET THE BENEFITS OF THE SUBSIDY.

>> SO IF THEY DECIDED NOT TO TAKE IT INITIALLY, AND NOW IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, THERE IS A DEADLINE THERE.

>> YEP, OR IF THEY TOOK IT AND THEN ENDED IT EARLY, THEY COULD JUMP BACK IN.

>> EXISTING COBRA RULES, HOW MANY OF THOSE -- IS THIS COBRA STILL A COBRA?

>> YES.

IT DOESN'T OVERRIDE ANY OF THE COBRA RULES, MOST OF WHICH RELATE TO NOTICES, BUT IT CHANGES THE NOTICES SOMEWHAT SO THAT THEY TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THE SUBSIDY, AND FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY -- YOU KNOW, WHO TERMINATED OR HAD THEIR COBRA-QUALIFYING EVENT PRIOR TO APRIL 1ST, THEY ARE GOING TO GET AN ADDITIONAL NOTICE, SO IT IS AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON EMPLOYERS, BUT DOESN'T CHANGE THE RULES THAT WERE ALREADY THERE.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE IF A WORKER QUITS OR IS FIRED OR ON MEDICARE OR SPOUSAL COVERAGE, COBRA DIDN'T WORK BEFORE, AND STILL DOESN'T FOR THOSE FOLKS.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK YOU COULD STILL GET COBRA IF YOU HAD OTHER COVERAGE, BUT WITH THIS YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE IF YOU HAVE OTHER GROUP OPTIONS.

>> AND EMPLOYERS HAVE TO GIVE NOTICE OF THE CHANGES.

HAS ANY OF THAT CHANGED, AND WHAT IS INVOLVED.

>> EMPLOYERS ARE STILL REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE COBRA ELIGIBLE.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PUBLISHED MODEL NOTICES THAT EMPLOYERS CAN USE THAT DESCRIBE THE SUBSIDY, AND THAT THE BENEFIT OF USING THOSE NOTICES IS THERE'S ASSURANCE THAT ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, SO AN EASIER WAY -- AN EMPLOYER COULD SECOND THOSE MODEL NOTICES, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO TALK TO THEIR INSURANCE AND MAKE SURE THE COVERAGE IS WORKING, AND IDENTIFY WHO IS ELIGIBLE, GOING BACK POTENTIALLY A YEAR AND A HALF, AND THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO THINK ABOUT EVEN -- IF THEY HAVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT COULD INCLUDE COBRA, HOW THAT COULD WORK AND FIT IN WITH THIS SUBSIDY.

>> YEAH, A LOT OF CHANGES.

KRISTI LUNDSTROM-HILL OF THE LAW FIRM FENNEMORE-CRAIG, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, WORKSHOP TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO BE BILINGUAL JOURNALISTS, BREAK IT DOWN, THE PREVALENCE OF CASES INVOLVING MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

♪