BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to health care reform; adding a new section to chapter 44.44 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. WASHINGTON HEALTH SERVICES COMMISSION‑-TRANSFERRED POWERS AND DUTIES. The Washington health services commission is terminated on January 1, 1996. It is the intent of the legislature that the commission's powers and duties are transferred as follows, consistent with specific enabling statutes:

(1) To the Washington health care authority:

(a) Standard benefits package provisions;

(b) Standard point-of-service cost-sharing provisions;

(2) To the department of health:

(a) Health data provisions;

(b) Quality assurance provisions;

(3) To the office of insurance commissioner:

(a) Health carrier provisions and related insurance provisions;

(b) Antitrust provisions;

(4) To the joint committee on health systems oversight, created by section 6 of this act:

(a) Provisions relating to the general oversight of the implementation of chapter 492, Laws of 1993, as amended;

(b) Provisions relating to monitoring the actual growth in total annual health services costs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. TRANSFER OF RECORDS, EQUIPMENT, FUNDS. All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the Washington health services commission shall be allocated in a manner prescribed by the office of financial management. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property used by the Washington health services commission shall be allocated in a manner prescribed by the office of financial management. All funds, credits, or other assets held by the Washington health services commission shall be allocated in a manner prescribed by the office of financial management.

Any appropriations made to the Washington health services commission shall, on the effective date of this section, be allocated in a manner prescribed by the legislature.

Whenever any question arises as to the transfer of any personnel, funds, books, documents, records, papers, files, equipment, or other tangible property used or held in the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties and functions transferred, the director of financial management shall make a determination as to the proper allocation and certify the same to the state agencies concerned.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEES. All employees of the Washington health services commission are transferred in the manner prescribed by the office of financial management.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. RULES AND BUSINESS. All rules and all pending business before the Washington health services commission shall be continued consistent with the authority transferred. All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the agency to which the related authority was transferred.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. VALIDITY OF PRIOR ACTS. The transfer of the powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the Washington health services commission shall not affect the validity of any act performed prior to the effective date of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 44.44 RCW to read as follows:

JOINT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH SYSTEMS OVERSIGHT‑-MEMBERSHIP, TERMS, LEADERSHIP. (1) There is hereby created a joint committee on health systems oversight. The committee shall consist of: (a) Four members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, two of whom shall be members of the majority party and two of whom shall be members of the minority party; and (b) four members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, two of whom shall be members of the majority party and two of whom shall be members of the minority party. Members of the committee shall be appointed before the close of each regular session during an odd-numbered year.

(2) Each member's term of office shall run from the close of the session in which the member was appointed until the close of the next regular session held in an odd-numbered year. If a successor is not appointed during a session, the member's term shall continue until the member is reappointed or a successor is appointed. The term of office for a committee member who does not continue as a member of the senate or house of representatives shall cease upon the convening of the next session of the legislature during an odd-numbered year after the member's appointment, or upon the member's resignation, whichever is earlier. Vacancies on the committee shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as described in subsection (1) of this section. All such vacancies shall be filled from the same political party and from the same house as the member whose seat was vacated.

(3) The committee shall elect a chair and a vice-chair. The chair shall be a member of the senate in even-numbered years and a member of the house of representatives in odd-numbered years.

(4) The committee shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) Oversee the implementation of chapter 492, Laws of 1993, as amended, related chapters of the Revised Code of Washington, activities related to pursuit of waivers from federal laws, and activities related to state compliance with federal laws and regulations;

(b) Periodically make recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature and the governor regarding the scope, financing, and delivery of standard benefits package or similar core benefits package as established by law;

(c) By July 1, 1996, recommend to the appropriate committees of legislature standards, recognized by the health science community, for determining when a research procedure, treatment, device, drug, or other health care service is as effective as the alternative standard care;

(d) Comply with other specified provisions of law;

(e) Consistent with funds appropriated: Hire staff, who shall have extensive experience in health reform activities in Washington state; conduct or cause to be conducted appropriate studies and review; and make necessary recommendations to the legislature;

(f) Administer oaths, issue subpoenas, and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of materials relevant to the committee's duties; and

(g) Consistent with the authority as set forth in RCW 34.05.610 through 34.05.660, review rules prepared by the insurance commissioner, health care authority, department of health, and other health-related state agencies where appropriate.

(5) In January 1998, the legislative budget committee shall commence a study of the necessity of the existence of the committee and report its recommendation to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 1998.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Captions as used in this act constitute no part of the law.