2013 -- S 1054 | |
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LC02976 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013 | |
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N | |
RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR INCLUDE ALTERNATIVE | |
METHODOLOGY TO FINANCE THE CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION ACCOUNT, THE | |
ADULT IMMUNIZATION ACCOUNT, AND THE CHILD HEALTH ACCOUNT IN THE | |
FY2015 BUDGET | |
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     Introduced By: Senator Walter S. Felag | |
     Date Introduced: July 03, 2013 | |
     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration | |
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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of Immunization reports immunization coverage |
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rates of 90 percent to protect against vaccine preventable diseases in children under 2 years of age |
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and in children who entered kindergarten in 2012; and |
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     WHEREAS, The children’s health account and the immunization programs for adults and |
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children are funded through legislation directing insurers to assess an annual fee and a tax on |
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fully insured lives; and |
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     WHEREAS, Self-funded health insurance plans and out-of-state employers do not pay |
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into these accounts, yet their employees benefit from the services listed above; and |
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     WHEREAS, Over the past seven years, the number of fully insured Rhode Islanders has |
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decreased by almost 23 percent, while the number of self-insured lives has increased by 13 |
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percent during that same time period; and |
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     WHEREAS, The increasing costs of these programs are being shouldered by a smaller |
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tax base as the number of commercially insured businesses in Rhode Island decreases; now, |
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therefore be it |
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     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence |
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Plantations respectfully requests that the governor include in the state budget for state fiscal year |
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2015 a new, broad-based, and sustainable methodology to finance the programs and accounts |
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pursuant to Rhode Island General Law subsections 42-12-29(a), 23-1-45(a), and 23-1-45(c) to |
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finance child and adult immunizations and the child health account; and be it further |
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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the governor. |
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LC02976 | |
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