Report Title:
Aloha Initiative; Health
Description:
Creates temporary health care task force in governor's office to develop a plan to provide universal health care to Hawaii residents. Appropriates $200,000 to task force for FY 2005-2006. Requires report 45 days prior to 2006 regular session. Terminates task force on 6/30/2006.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1212 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to health.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Hawaii health care task force. (a) There is established a temporary health care task force within the office of the governor to study and advise on the implementation of comprehensive, quality, accessible, and affordable health care for every resident in the State by January 1, 2010.
(b) The task force shall consist of fifteen members as follows:
(1) Three members appointed by the governor;
(2) Three members appointed by the governor from a list of nominees submitted by the president of the senate;
(3) Three members appointed by the governor from a list of nominees submitted by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
(4) Six members from the public;
provided that no member shall be employed by or represent a health maintenance organization, a mutual benefit society that issues hospital and medical service association plans or contracts, or any other health care organization. In addition, the governor shall appoint two nonvoting ex officio facilitators who shall be nominated by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives whose task shall be to aid the task force in scheduling meetings, meeting deadlines, and to facilitate communication among members of the task force.
(c) The task force may request assistance from the department of health, and other state agencies as necessary to provide staff support, and from the legislative reference bureau to finalize drafting of any proposed legislation. The task force may conduct or contract for actuarial studies, and seek legal advice from the attorney general regarding the feasibility of its recommendations.
(d) The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
SECTION 2. Duties of the task force. (a) The task force shall:
(1) Study alternatives and practical solutions for providing quality, affordable, and accessible health care for all Hawaii residents;
(2) Delineate the barriers that currently exist and have historically hindered the achieving of comprehensive, quality, accessible, and affordable health care for every resident of Hawaii;
(3) Consider the impact of any new health care initiative on the Prepaid Health Care Act and other relevant health care legislation in Hawaii; and
(4) Develop a plan to address those barriers.
(b) The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the legislature, including any necessary proposed legislation, no later than forty-five days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2006. The task force shall terminate on June 30, 2006.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for the temporary health care task force to carry out its duties, including conducting or contracting for actuarial studies and obtaining expert testimony.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of the governor for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; except that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2005.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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