06 LC 33
1512
Senate
Resolution 1236
By:
Senators Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, Hooks of the 14th, Goggans of the 7th and
Carter of the 13th
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Senate Study Committee on the State Health Care Benefit Plan; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the rising cost of health care has had a negative impact on the State of
Georgia, its dedicated public employees, and health care personnel;
and
WHEREAS,
the rising cost of health care and its negative impact are not unique to
Georgia; and
WHIEREAS,
other states and municipalities have dealt with this crisis in varied and
innovative ways; and
WHEREAS,
the dedicated public employees covered under the State Health Benefit Plan and
the physicians who provide the health care have had limited input in
policy-making activities including, but not limited to, plan administration,
plan design, plan changes, qualitative reviews of plan service, scope of
services, and networks; and
WHEREAS,
the expertise and input of all parties impacted by decisions made concerning the
State Health Benefit Plan is vital to the success of the health plan and
accomplishment of its mission to provide quality affordable health insurance;
and
WHEREAS,
an opportunity should be provided for public hearings in different parts of the
state and consideration of options for improving the State Health Benefit Plan
to ensure future improvement of the State Health Benefit Plan.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study
Committee on the State Health Care Benefit Plan to be composed of nine members,
as follows: five members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee
on Assignments, the president of the Georgia Association of Educators or his or
her designee, the Georgia president of the Service Employees International Union
or his or her designee, the president of the Professional Association of Georgia
Educators or his or her designee, and the president of the Medical Association
of Georgia or his or her designee. If an elected or appointed public officer
who is a member of the committee leaves office, a vacancy shall be created in
such position on the committee. Such a vacancy and any other vacancy shall be
filled in the same manner as the initial designation or appointment. The
members of the committee shall elect a chairperson at its first meeting. The
committeés
first meeting shall be at the call of the President of the Senate and thereafter
at the call of the chairperson.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or
appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such
times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and
purposes of this resolution. No less than two meetings of the committee shall
be held outside of the metropolitan area of Atlanta. The legislative members of
the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8
of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, but shall receive the same for not
more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The members of the
committee who are not legislative members and who are not public employees shall
receive no compensation for their services on the committee. The funds
necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the
funds appropriated to or otherwise available to the Senate. The committee shall
publish a written report on its progress on or before December 31, 2006, for the
2007 session of the General Assembly and shall include any recommendations of
any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.
This committee shall stand abolished on July 1, 2007.