The National Chamber Litigation Center (NCLC) has weighed in on a lawsuit challenging a San Francisco law that mandates how much all businesses with over 20 employees must spend on employee health care.

In a March 28 friend-of-the-court brief, NCLC called on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to strike down the San Francisco's Health Care Security Ordinance because it preempts employers' rights under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act. ERISA allows employers to establish and administer a health care plan on a uniform, company-wide basis, according to Robin Conrad, executive vice president of NCLC.

Last year, the Chamber, along with the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) challenged and successfully defeated a similar law in Maryland mandating the terms of health care coverage.