sb167.html
07 LC 37 0314
Senate Bill 167
By: Senators Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, Golden of the 8th, Hooks of the 14th, Brown of the 26th and Jones of the 10th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT


To amend Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the state employees´ health insurance plan, so as to create the State Health Benefit Advisory Committee; to provide for membership; to provide for quarterly meetings; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.
Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the state employees´ health insurance plan, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"45-18-21.
(a) There is created and established a State Health Benefit Plan Advisory Committee composed of 15 members to be appointed as follows:
(1) Five members shall be appointed by the Governor;
(2) Five members shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; and
(3) Five members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(b) The members of the committee shall be educators and state employees or retired educators or retired employees who are covered by the plan. All vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by the original appointing official. Members shall serve for terms of four years and shall be eligible for successive appointments by an appointing official. The committee shall meet quarterly.
(c) The members of the committee shall serve without compensation.
(d) The committee shall be involved in all state health benefit plan policy-making activities, including, but not limited to, plan administration, plan design, plan changes, qualitative reviews of plan service, scope of services, and networks.
(e) The committee shall first recommend plan changes to the Governor and the legislature and the Department of Community Health no later than December 31, 2007, and no later than December 31 annually thereafter."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.