Bill Text: NJ SR23 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Reconstitutes the "Senate Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-11 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee [SR23 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-SR23-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator NELLIE POU
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Reconstitutes the "Senate Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution reconstituting the "Senate Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation."
Whereas, The 215th Legislature created the "Joint Legislative Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation," pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 144, which passed the Senate and General Assembly and which was filed with the Secretary of State on May 21, 2013; and
Whereas, The Senate of the 216th Legislature created the "Senate Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation," pursuant to Senate Resolution No. 80, which was passed by the Senate and filed with the Secretary of State on June 12, 2014, to continue the work of the "Joint Legislative Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation;" and
Whereas, As of January 1, 2014, the federal government had established and began operating a health insurance exchange in the State, pursuant to the federal "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," Pub.L.111-148, as amended by the federal "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010," Pub.L.111-152 (the "federal act"); and
Whereas, The federal act, and the federal regulations adopted pursuant thereto, allow states flexibility to partner with the federal government or to assume an increasing role and responsibility respecting exchange operations at a later date; and
Whereas, The concerns and oversight responsibilities of the Legislature that prompted the passage of SCR144 of 2013 and SR 80 of 2014 with respect to the evolving nature of the health insurance market, and legislative and regulatory efforts to design and implement a health insurance exchange in the State, remain of vital importance to the State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The "Senate Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation" established by the Senate on the 216th Legislature pursuant to Senate Resolution No.80 of 2014 is reconstituted.
b. The purpose of the task force shall be to oversee and develop recommendations for the implementation of a health insurance exchange in New Jersey in accordance with the federal act, and the federal regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
c. The task force shall:
(1) analyze and oversee the operation of a federal health insurance exchange in New Jersey;
(2) develop recommendations on the scope of the State's role in health insurance exchange operations to ensure that the State benefits to the maximum extent practicable from the health insurance exchange; and
(3) make such recommendations as will best ensure a coordinated effort among the relevant State agencies, health care providers, third party payers, and the federal government to implement the health insurance exchange in New Jersey.
2. a. The task force shall be comprised of six members, as follows:
(1) The chairpersons of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee, as ex officio members, or their designees;
(2) Two members appointed by the Senate President, who shall be members of the Senate; and
(3) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, who shall be members of the Senate.
Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.
b. The task force shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members, and the chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.
c. The members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the task force.
d. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature.
e. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State department, board, bureau, commission, authority, agency, or other entity, as it may require and as may be available for its purposes, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of funds made available to it for its purposes.
3. The task force shall issue reports at least annually of its activities, findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative or administrative action, including any recommendations to expand the role of the State in implementing the health insurance exchange in New Jersey, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly, with the first annual report being issued one year after the date of adoption of this Senate resolution.
4. This Senate resolution
shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This Senate resolution reconstitutes the "Senate Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation," which will continue the work of the "Senate Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation," established by the Senate in the 216th Legislature pursuant to Senate Resolution No.80.
As in the previous session, the purpose of the task force is to oversee and develop recommendations for the implementation of a health insurance exchange in New Jersey in accordance with the federal "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," as amended by the federal "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010."
Specifically, the task force will:
(1) analyze and oversee the operation of a federal health insurance exchange in New Jersey;
(2) develop recommendations on the scope of the State's role in health insurance exchange operations to ensure that the State benefits to the maximum extent practicable from the health insurance exchange; and
(3) make such recommendations as will best ensure a coordinated effort among the relevant State agencies, health care providers, third party payers, and the federal government to implement the health insurance exchange in New Jersey.
The task force is comprised of 6 members, as follows:
(1) the chairpersons of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee, as ex officio members, or their designees;
(2) Two members appointed by the Senate President, who shall be members of the Senate; and
(3) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, who shall be members of the Senate.
The task force is required to select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members, and the chairperson is required to appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force. The members of the task force are to serve without compensation but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the task force.
The resolution requires the task force to issue reports at least annually to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly, of its activities, findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative or administrative action, including any recommendations to expand the role of the State in implementing the health insurance exchange in New Jersey, with the first annual report being issued one year after this resolution is adopted.
