ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 2127 	By:	Aldridge of the Senate

			and

		Moore of the House

[ health insurance for state employees - State Employee Health Insurance Review Working Group - modifying duties - exempting certain contract - specifying termination date -		emergency ]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     Section 4, Chapter 323, O.S.L. 2009, is amended to read as follows:
Section 4.  A.  There is hereby created re-created the State Employee Health Insurance Review Working Group.
B.  The Working Group shall consist of five (5) members to be appointed or selected as follows:
1.  Two members, who shall be members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives;
2.  Two members, who shall be members of the Oklahoma State Senate, to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate; and
3.  The Insurance Commissioner or designee.
The members previously appointed to the Working Group shall continue to serve with new members appointed as necessary by the original appointing authority pursuant to this section.
C.  The Working Group shall hold its first meeting not later than July 1, 2009.  The first meeting shall be called by the co-chairs of the Working Group.  A majority of the members present at the initial meeting or any subsequent meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of any action taken including the preparation and approval of the final report required by subsection N L of this section.
D.  The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate shall designate which of their respective appointments shall serve as co-chairs of the Working Group.  The members appointed as co-chairs pursuant to this subsection shall continue to serve as co-chairs.
E.  Members of the Working Group shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
F.  The Working Group shall be authorized to meet as necessary in order to perform the duties imposed upon it.  Legislative members of the Working Group shall be reimbursed for travel expenses pursuant to the provisions of Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  Other members of the Working Group shall be reimbursed as provided by the appointing authority.
G.  Due to the increase in the cost of state employees’ health care coverage, the The Working Group shall continue to study and examine the most efficient and cost-effective way to leverage state dollars to ensure the highest level of health care for state employees at a competitive price.
H.  The study shall include, but shall not be limited to:
1.  Ways to reduce costs of state employee health care coverage to the taxpayers, state employees and their dependents;
2.  Health care coverage plan design that will promote patient care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, efficient, and equitable;
3.  Offering consumer choice of health care plan designs that allow state employees the opportunity to determine what coverage and costs of such coverage best meet their needs; and
4.  Ways to maximize the state’s leverage in purchasing medical services and supplies and plans’ support services.
I.  The Working Group shall also provide oversight and monitor any efforts relating to implementation of the recommendations made by the consultant pursuant to the provisions of this section.  The Working Group shall have the authority to request the Legislative Service Bureau to review select an authoritative consultants consultant with expertise in state plan design and health care purchasing and assess the ability of the consultants consultant to examine the objectives listed in subsection H of this section assist in the implementation of the recommendations in addition to other objectives, as necessary.
J.  After the review required by subsection I of this section, the Legislative Service Bureau.
H.  The Working Group shall recommend one or more a qualified consultants consultant to the Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council and the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board.  The Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council and the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board jointly shall contract with one of the recommended consultants consultant for the study required by subsection G of this section.  Any contract entered into pursuant to this subsection shall not be subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act.
K. I.  The consultant shall advise the Working Group on recommendations to fulfill the objectives outlined in subsections the progress of its work pursuant to subsection G and H of this section.
L. J.  The Working Group shall have the authority to request of related agencies any information, records or reports necessary to ensure the study of objectives outlined in subsection H of this section provide proper oversight and monitoring of the recommendations of the consultant.  Agencies shall respond to the Working Group in a timely manner to meet necessary reporting deadlines imposed upon the Working Group.
M. K.  Staff assistance for the Working Group shall be provided by the staff of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the State Senate.  Funding for the study, other than costs otherwise provided for in this section, shall be provided equally by the Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council and the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board.
N. L.  The Working Group shall produce a final written report of its findings and any recommendations regarding effective and cost-efficient purchasing and delivery of Oklahoma state employees’ health care the oversight and implementation of the recommendations of the consultant.  The report shall be submitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate not later than December 31, 2009 2010.
O. M.  The provisions of this section shall cease to have the force and effect of law and the Working Group shall terminate effective January 1, 2010 2011.
SECTION 2.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
Passed the Senate the 3rd day of March, 2010.

	
Presiding Officer 	of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2010.

	
Presiding Officer	of the House
	of Representatives