HB2103 HD1

Report Title:

Hawaii Health Authority

Description:

Establishes the Hawaii Health Authority (HHA) to provide health care for all Hawaii citizens (HB2103 HD1).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2103
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to health.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

HAWAII health AUTHORITY

§ -1 Hawaii health authority; establishment. (a) There is established an autonomous Hawaii health authority to develop plans and strategies for the creation of a universal health care system for the people of Hawaii. The authority shall be placed within the University of Hawaii's John A. Burns school of medicine for administrative purposes as specified in section 26-35(a)(6) only.

(b) The authority shall be composed of three voting members appointed by the governor as provided in section 26-34; provided that:

(1) One member shall be selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(2) One member shall be selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the president of the senate.

All members shall be appointed for terms of six years each, except that the terms of the members first appointed shall be for two, four, and six years, respectively, as designated by the governor at the time of appointment.

(d) Each member shall hold office until the member's successor is appointed and qualified.

(e) The concurrence of a majority of all members shall be necessary to make any action of the authority valid.

(f) The salary of the executive director shall be $ a year and the salaries of the other members shall be $ a year.

(g) The authority shall be assisted by up to two clerical staff members to be appointed by, and level of compensation to be decided upon, by the executive director.

(h) The authority shall coordinate the consideration of a single payer universal health system for the state which shall be pursued by implementing plans and strategies for:

(1) Monitoring the number of uninsured people in the state;

(2) Tracking demographics on who is uninsured in the state;

(3) Coordinating and refining the map of all health care related resources geographically;

(4) Coordinating the institution of a statewide electronic record-keeping system;

(5) Monitoring the cost of health insurance to businesses and private individuals; and

(6) Annually reporting all findings and recommendations for legislation to the legislature not less than twenty days prior to the beginning of each regular session, commencing with the 2007 regular session.

(i) The Hawaii health authority may establish working groups as needed. Working group members may include persons who are not members of the public advisory body.

(j) The working group members shall serve without compensation.

(k) The authority shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this Act."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for the Hawaii health authority to carry out the purposes of this Act, including contracting for services and studies as necessary.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2020.