08-R384
2008 -- H 7466
Enacted 07/05/08
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A JOINT TASK
FORCE TO STUDY ALL ASPECTS OF HEALTH CARE REFORM RELATING TO THE HEALTHY RHODE
ISLAND REFORM ACT OF 2008 - PART VIII
Introduced By:
Representatives Lewiss, Church, Ferri, Gemma, and Slater
Date Introduced: February
13, 2008
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,
Since the passage of the Massachusetts legislation several other states and
many
national candidates for office have proposed comprehensive health care reform
plans; 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, other states' health care reform initiatives and
health
care
reform plans proposed by many national candidates for office is necessary; and
be it further
RESOLVED,
That a special Joint Task Force be and the same is hereby created
consisting
of nine (9) members: four (4) of whom shall be members of the House of
Representatives,
not more than three (3) from the same political party, to be appointed by the
Speaker
of the House; four (4) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than
three (3)
from
the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and
one of whom
shall
be the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Rhode Island, or designee.
The
purpose of said task force shall be to make a comprehensive study of the
Massachusetts
Health Care Reform Plan, other states' health care reform initiatives and the
health
care
reform proposals of national candidates for office and the potential
applicability of these
initiatives
to the State of Rhode Island.
On
September 1, 2008, or immediately thereafter, the members of the task force
shall
meet
at the call of the General Assembly and organize and shall select one co-chair
from among
the
members of the House of Representatives, one co-chair from among the members of
the
Senate,
and one co-chair who shall be the Lieutenant Governor.
Vacancies
in said task force shall be filed 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 4, 2009 and said task force shall expire on August
4, 2009.
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LC01360
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