SECTION 1. Section 40-8.4-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-8.4 entitled "Health Care For Families" is hereby amended to read as follows:

40-8.4-14. Permanent joint committee on health care oversight. [Effective January 7, 2003.] -- (a) The legislature hereby finds and declares that: (1) access to affordable, quality health and long-term care is of concern for all Rhode Islanders, (2) the complexities of the health insurance and health care delivery systems result in inefficiencies, confusion and additional costs for consumers and other participants in the health care system, (3) reform to the health insurance and health care delivery systems is achievable only through an ongoing, focused, directed, and informed effort, and (4) steps taken to reduce the numbers of uninsured Rhode Islanders, enhance the quality of care, contain costs, assure accessibility to services, and promote healthy lifestyles should be monitored, adjusted or expanded as needed. Therefore, there is hereby created a permanent legislative committee to monitor, study, report and make recommendations on all areas of health care provision, insurance, liability, licensing, cost and delivery of services, and the adequacy, efficacy and efficiency of statutes, rules, regulations, guidelines, practices, and programs related to health care, long-term care, or health insurance coverage in Rhode Island.

(b) The committee consists of eight (8) twelve (12) members of the general assembly: four (4) six (6) of whom shall be members of the house of representatives, three (3) from the majority party to include the chair or vice chair of the committee on finance, the chair or vice chair of the committee on corporations, the chair or vice chair of the committee on health, education and welfare; and one of whom shall be from the minority party, to be appointed by, and to serve at the discretion of, the speaker of the house of representatives; and four (4) six (6) of whom shall be from the senate, three (3) from the majority party to include the chair or vice chair of the committee on finance, the chair or vice chair of the committee on corporations, the chair or vice chair of the committee on health, education and welfare; and one of whom from the minority party, to be appointed by, and to serve at the discretion of, the president of the senate.

(c) The committee shall have co-chairpersons, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one by the president of the senate.

(d) The committee may review or study any matter related to the provision of health care services and long-term care that it considers of significance to the citizens of Rhode Island, including the availability of health care, the quality of health care, the effectiveness and efficiency of managed care systems, the efficiency and the operation of state health care programs, and the availability of improved processes or new technologies to achieve more effective and timely resolution of disputes, better communication, speedier, more reliable and less costly administrative processes, claims, payments, and other matters involving the interaction among any or all of government, employers, consumers of health care, providers, health care facilities, insurers and others. The committee may request information from any health care provider, health care facility, insurer or others. The committee may request and shall receive from any instrumentality of the state, including the department of human services, the department of business regulation, the department of health, and the department of mental health, retardation, and hospitals, the department of elderly affairs, and the long-term care coordinating council, or any other governmental advisory body or commission, including, but not limited to, the governor's advisory council on health, such information and assistance as it deems necessary for the proper execution of its powers and duties under this section, including the annual report of the governor's advisory council on health.

(e) In addition to the notification regarding regulations required under section 40-8.4-10(b), the department of human services shall file with the permanent joint committee on health care oversight a detailed plan for the implementation of the programs created under this chapter by August 1, 2000.

(f) The committee shall have the power to hold hearings, shall meet at least quarterly, may make recommendations to the general assembly, state agencies, private industry or any other entity, and shall report to the general assembly on its findings and recommendations as it determines appropriate.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 7, 2003.