06-R 350

2006 -- H 8247 AS AMENDED

Enacted 06/23/06

J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY ACT OF 2006 - PART V

Introduced By: Representatives Gemma, McNamara, Corvese, Kennedy, and Story

Date Introduced: June 15, 2006

      WHEREAS, On April 12, 2006, landmark legislation was enacted in the Commonwealth

of Massachusetts that would provide nearly universal health care coverage to Massachusetts’

residents; and

       WHEREAS, The states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island share the advantages of a

high percentage of employers offering employee health benefits and expanded Medicaid

programs; and

       WHEREAS, The states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island each have lower percentages

of uninsured persons than the national average; and

       WHEREAS, Health care costs continue to rise at rates significantly outpacing wage

increases; and

       WHEREAS, These cost increases have led to reduced employer profits, increased

employee expenses, and more persons who are without health insurance coverage; and

       WHEREAS, The Massachusetts Health Care Reform Plan combines features of

individual responsibility with government subsidies, and crossing traditional ideological

     boundaries; now, therefore be it

       RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations hereby strongly believes that a thorough study of the applicability of the

Massachusetts Health Care Reform Plan to Rhode Island is necessary; and be it further

      RESOLVED, That a special Task Force on Health Care Reform be and the same is

hereby created consisting of nineteen (19) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the

House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by

the Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two

(2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom

shall be the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Rhode Island, who shall be chair; one of whom

shall be the Director of the Department of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director

of the Department of Human Services, or designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island

Health Insurance Commissioner, or designee; three (3) of whom shall be members of the public,

one of whom shall be a Rhode Island Business owner and one (1) of whom shall be a

representative of organized labor and one (1) of whom shall be a consumer, to be appointed by

the Governor; three (3) of whom shall be members of the public, one (1) of whom shall be a

Rhode Island Business owner and one (1) of whom shall be a representative of organized labor

and one (1) of whom shall be a consumer, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; three

(3) of whom shall be members of the public, one of whom shall be a Rhode Island Business

owner one (1) of whom shall be a representative of organized labor and one of whom shall be a

consumer, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

      In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a task force, permanent

advisory commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General

Assembly resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to

serve in lieu of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political

party which is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the

general public.

      The purpose of said task force shall be to make a comprehensive study of the

Massachusetts Health Care Reform Plan and its potential applicability to the State of Rhode

Island.

       On November 15, 2006, or immediately thereafter, the members of the task force shall

meet at the call of the General Assembly and organize and shall select, from among the

legislators, a chairperson. Vacancies in said task force shall be filled in like manner as the

original appointment.

       The membership of said task force shall receive no compensation for their services.

       All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said task force and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable

by the task force to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

       The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said task force; and be it further

      RESOLVED, That the task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the

General Assembly no later than June 5, 2007 and said task force shall expire on August 5, 2007.

=======

LC03468

========