It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 23-1-46 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

23-1-46. Insurers -- (a) Beginning in the fiscal year 1992-1993, and to be continued subsequently, notwithstanding the provisions of sections 27-19-2, 27-20-2, and 27-41-22, 2002, each insurer licensed or regulated pursuant to the provisions of chapters 18, 19, 20, and 41 of title 27 shall be assessed a child immunization assessment for the purposes set forth in this section. an amount equal to seventy-five thousandths of one percent (.075%) of the direct premiums written by the insurer for Rhode Island groups and individuals, as defined in rules and regulations promulgated by the director of the department of health. Commencing in the fiscal year 1995-1996 and to be continued subsequently, each insurer's assessment shall be increased to one hundred twenty-one thousandths of one percent (.121%) of direct premiums written by the insurer as previously described. Beginning January 1, 2001, of the fiscal year 2000-2001 and to be continued until January 1, 2002, each insurer's assessment shall be increased to four hundred fifty-thousandths of one percent (.450%) of direct premiums written by the insurer as previously described. The department of health shall make available to each insurer, upon its request, information regarding the department of health's child immunization program and the costs related to the program on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year. Further, the department of health shall submit to the general assembly an annual report on the child immunization program and cost related to the program, on or before February 1, 2001, and of each subsequent year. Annual assessments shall be based on direct premiums written in the year prior to the assessment and shall not include any Medicare Supplement Policy (as defined in section 27-18-2.1(g)), Medicaid or Medicare premiums. As to accident and sickness insurance, the direct premium written shall include, but is not limited to, group, blanket, and individual policies. The amount of the assessment shall be determined prior to August 1 of each year by the department of business regulation, division of insurance and be paid by the insurer, to the department of health prior to September 1 of each year. However, those Those insurers assessed greater than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the year shall be assessed four (4) quarterly payments of twenty-five percent (25%) of their total assessment, to be paid by September 1 and December 1 of each year and by March 1 and June 1 of each subsequent year. Beginning July 1, 2001, the annual rate of assessment shall be determined by the Director of Health in concurrence with the Primary Payors, those being insurers assessed at greater than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the previous year. This rate shall be calculated by the projected costs for Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended and state mandated vaccines after the federal share has been determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Primary Payors shall be informed of any recommended change in rates at least six (6) months in advance, and rates shall be adjusted no more frequently than one time annually. The director of the department of health shall deposit that amount in the "infant-child immunization account". The assessment shall be used solely for the purposes of the "infant-child immunization account" and no other.

(b) Any funds collected in excess of funds needed to carry-out ACIP recommendations shall be deducted from the subsequent year's assessment.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.