State Employee Health Insurance

Item 504 #1s

Language
Page 359, line 17, strike "$24,530,099" and insert "$41,581,699".
Page 359, line 17, strike "$23,966,422" and insert "$43,263,361".
Page 359, line 24, strike "24,530,099" and insert "40,742,896".
Page 359, line 24, strike "23,966,422" and insert "42,669,482".
Page 359, following line 39, insert:
"3.a.   There is hereby established the Commission on Health Benefits Reform.  The Commission shall be comprised of four members of the Senate Finance Committee to be appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; four members of the House Appropriations Committee to be appointed by the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee; one member to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; and four members to be appointed by the Governor including the Secretary of Administration, the Secretary of Finance and two health benefit experts from large private sector employers.
b.  In carrying out its work the Commission shall be supported by:
1. A technical advisory committee comprised of the chief human resource officers of the University of Virginia; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Virginia Commonwealth University; George Mason University; the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services; the Department of Corrections; the Department of State Police; the Department of Transportation; the Department of Taxation; the Director of the Department of Human Resource Management, or his designee; the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, or his designee; and the staff of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees.
2. At least one employee advisory committee, the composition of which shall be based on the Commission’s assessment of its requirements for advice and assistance.
3. Such consultants as may be deemed necessary by the Commission, provided that any cost associated with such services shall be reasonable and incidental to the administration of the state health benefits program.
c. With the assistance of the technical advisory committee, the Commission shall implement a communications program to inform state employees, and provide such employees an opportunity to comment on its work.
d.  The health benefits plan recommended by the Commission shall provide for:
1. A health benefits program to meet state workforce needs;
2. Other modern health benefit features, as deemed appropriate for a large, multi-site employer.
e.   The Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by October 1, 2002.

Explanation
(This amendment adds funding to the state employee health insurance program and creates a joint commission to review and make recommendations on future funding requirements and options for the health benefits program.)