Resolve, To Establish the Maine Health Advisory Committee

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the Maine Health Advisory Committee must be established to advise the Legislature regarding the interests of Maine's citizens and businesses with respect to the delivery of health care in the State; and

Whereas,  the work of the advisory committee must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that it may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative session; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Advisory committee established. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Maine Health Advisory Committee, referred to in this resolve as "the advisory committee," is established; and be it further

Sec. 2. Advisory committee membership. Resolved: That the advisory committee consists of 15 members as follows:

1. The following 5 members of the Legislature, of whom one must serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and Financial Services and one must serve on either the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services or the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs:

2. One person representing the insurance industry, appointed by the President of the Senate;

3. One person who is an advocate for enrolling hard-to-reach populations in health insurance, including individuals with mental health or substance use disorders, appointed by the President of the Senate;

4. One person representing hospitals or other health care facilities in the State, appointed by the President of the Senate;

5. One person representing health care providers, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

6. One person representing a health care advocacy group, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

7. One person who has expertise in health economics, appointed by the President of the Senate;

8. One person who has expertise in statistics, polling and data analysis, appointed by the President of the Senate;

9. The Superintendent of Insurance, or the superintendent's designee;

10. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services, or the commissioner's designee; and

11. The executive director of the division of employee health and benefits within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Human Resources; and be it further

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the advisory committee; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of advisory committee. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the advisory committee. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the advisory committee to meet and conduct its business; and be it further

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the advisory committee shall study health care issues, including but not limited to the issues of quality, affordability and accessibility of health care throughout the State; the prevention of illness; fairness and equity of health care delivery and accessibility in different geographic regions of the State; various funding options; and methods of cost containment. Through the use of public meetings, questionnaires, polling and other sampling techniques, the advisory committee shall solicit information and concerns from the public. The advisory committee shall review strategies employed by other states and, based on the information it gathers, shall develop recommendations to present to the Legislature regarding the delivery and financing of health care in the State; and be it further

Sec. 6. Meetings. Resolved: That the advisory committee shall hold 6 meetings, 4 of which must be held at geographically diverse locations throughout the State. Meetings of the advisory committee are public proceedings as provided by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, chapter 13, subchapter 1; and be it further

Sec. 7. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the advisory committee; and be it further

Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 31, 2017, the advisory committee shall submit a report for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services during the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature that includes:

1. A review and an evaluation of the continuation of the advisory committee, including the staffing and funding needs of such an advisory committee, and recommendations regarding the advisability of establishing an ongoing advisory committee in the Maine Revised Statutes; and

2. Recommendations for any changes in policy or law that would improve the delivery of health care for citizens and businesses in the State.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This resolve establishes the Maine Health Advisory Committee.