THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2470 |
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to the hawaii health connector.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hawaii health insurance exchange, also known as the Hawaii health connector, is the State's online health insurance marketplace, created to help individuals and small businesses take advantage of the health insurance choices available under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The legislature further finds that amendments relating to the board of directors of the Hawaii health connector are needed to facilitate the implementation phase of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and better position the Hawaii health connector for long-term sustainability.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to amend the composition and procedures of the board of directors of the Hawaii health connector by:
(1) Lowering the number of members on the board of directors to twelve, with a maximum of nine total voting members;
(2) Removing members representing insurers and dental benefit providers from the board;
(3) Requiring all but one of the state agency representatives on the board to be ex officio, nonvoting members; and
(4) Establishing procedures for filling vacancies on the board.
SECTION 2. Section 435H-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§435H-4 Board of directors;
composition; operation. (a) The Hawaii health connector shall be a
nonprofit entity governed by a board of directors that shall comprise [fifteen
members appointed by the governor and with the advice and consent of the senate
pursuant to section 26‑34; provided that the governor shall submit nominations
to the senate for advice and consent no later than February 1, 2012; and
provided further that the senate shall timely advise and consent to nominations
for terms to begin July 1, 2012. Members of the interim board shall be
eligible for appointment to the board.] twelve members. The total
number of voting members on the board shall not exceed nine members. There
shall be no board members representing insurers or dental benefit providers,
but the board may establish a subcommittee of representatives from insurers and
dental benefit providers to provide technical assistance and other information
to the connector on macro insurance matters.
(b) Appointments to fill vacancies on the board shall be as follows:
(1) The board shall recommend to the governor the skill sets that are needed on the board to facilitate implementation of the connector;
(2) The board shall submit to the governor a list of qualified nominees that meet the required skill sets; and
(3) The governor shall appoint members of the board, subject to the advice and consent of the senate and pursuant to section 26‑34, from this list of qualified nominees provided by the board.
[(b)] (c) The membership of the
board shall reflect geographic diversity and the diverse interests of stakeholders
including consumers[,] and employers[, insurers, and dental
benefit providers].
(d) The governor shall designate one
representative to serve as the state's official representative on the board
from among the following state representatives currently sitting on the board:
the director of commerce and consumer affairs or the director's designee,
the director of health or the director's designee, the director of human
services or the director's designee, [and] or the director of
labor and industrial relations or the director's designee. The remaining
three state representatives shall be ex officio, [voting] nonvoting
members of the board.
The director of commerce and consumer affairs, the director of health, the director of human services, and the director of labor and industrial relations may select a designee for a specified meeting or meetings. Such selection of the designee shall be submitted in writing to the board of directors prior to or at the meeting in which the designee will serve.
No state agency shall impede the efficient operation of the connector.
[(c)] (e) Board members shall
serve staggered terms and the interim board shall recommend an appropriate
schedule for staggered terms; provided that this subsection shall not apply to
ex officio members, who shall serve during their entire term of office.
[(d)] (f) The board shall adopt
policies prohibiting conflicts of interest and procedures for recusal of a
member in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, including policies
prohibiting a member from taking part in official action on any matter in which
the member had any financial involvement or interest prior to the commencement
of service on the board. Members of the board may retain private counsel for
matters relating to service on the board according to rules recommended by the
board.
[(e)] (g) The board shall manage
the budget of the connector according to generally accepted accounting
principles and a plan for financial organization adopted by the legislature
based on recommendations of the interim board.
[(f)] (h) The board shall
maintain transparency of board actions, including public disclosure and posting
of board minutes on the connector's website according to provisions adopted by
the legislature based on recommendations of the interim board."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.
INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Hawaii Health Connector; Hawaii Health Insurance Exchange; Board of Directors
Description:
Effective July 1, 2014, lowers the number of members on the board of directors of the Hawaii health connector to twelve, with a maximum of nine total voting members. Removes members representing insurers and dental benefit providers from the board and requires all but one of the state agency representatives on the board to be ex officio, nonvoting members. Establishes procedures for filling vacancies on the board.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.