BILL REQ. #:  H-4970.1 

Read first time 02/03/10.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a commission on health care insurance reform; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1)(a) A commission on health care insurance reform is established, with members as provided in this subsection.
     (i) The president of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate.
     (ii) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives.
     (iii) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives jointly shall appoint eight members representing business, labor, insurance carriers, and consumers.
     (iv) The insurance commissioner shall serve as the chair of the task force, and will be a nonvoting member, except in the case of a tie vote.
     (b) The insurance commissioner shall convene the initial meeting of the commission on health care insurance reform.
     (2) The commission on health care insurance reform shall review the following issues:
     (a) The individual health care market;
     (b) The small group market;
     (c) The association health plan market;
     (d) Mandated benefits;
     (e) Rating rules;
     (f) Antidiscrimination provisions; and
     (g) Any other aspect of health insurance the commission on health care insurance reform deems appropriate.
     (3) The commission on health care insurance reform shall report its findings, recommendations, and legislation based upon its recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 15, 2010.
     (4) The senate and house of representatives shall approve or reject the legislation containing the commission recommendations, without amendment, by April 15, 2011.
     (5) This section expires June 30, 2011.