07 LC 33
1914
House
Bill 514
By:
Representatives Butler of the
18th,
Channell of the
116th,
Ehrhart of the
36th,
Cooper of the
41st,
Stephens of the
164th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 1 of Title 31of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to general health provisions, so as to create a State Commission on Government
Health Services Reform; to provide for legislative intent; to provide for
composition of the commission and the commission´s powers and duties; to
provide for compensation of the members of the commission; to provide for
officers of the commission; to provide for a quorum for the transaction of
business; to provide for a final report; to provide for related matters; to
provide for automatic repeal on a certain date; to provide an effective date; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
1 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
health provisions, is amended by adding a new article to read as
follows:
"ARTICLE
3
31-1-30.
The
General Assembly finds and declares that it is important to periodically assess
the structure and delivery of state services and agencies so that it may be
determined if services are properly delivered and agencies continue to meet
their obligations to the citizens and taxpayers of this state. The General
Assembly further finds that access to quality health care and a modern public
health infrastructure are vital to the citizens of the State of Georgia.
Therefore, the General Assembly finds that it is in the best interest of this
state and its citizenry to undertake an evaluation of the structure and
responsibilities of the Department of Human Resources and the Department of
Community Health, and to make any recommendations regarding the reorganization
thereof in order that the health and well-being of Georgia´s citizenry are
protected.
31-1-31.
There
is created a State Commission on Government Health Services Reform for the
purpose of determining whether the Department of Human Resources and the
Department of Community Health should be restructured so that health services,
finance, and regulatory oversight are under the sole purview of a single state
agency at the department level, and human services and welfare programs are
under the purview of a single state agency at the department level.
31-1-32
The
State Commission on Government Health Services Reform shall be composed of 13
members. The Governor shall appoint three members and the Lieutenant Governor
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint four members,
as each deems advisable. The Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall each appoint a cochairperson from among their designees,
and each appointed cochairperson shall appoint an additional member of the
commission.
31-1-33.
(a)
The commission shall hold meetings at the call of the
cochairpersons.
(b)
A quorum for transacting business shall be a majority of the members of the
commission.
(c)
Any legislative members of the commission shall receive the allowances provided
for in Code Section 28-1-8. Citizen members shall receive a daily expense
allowance in the amount specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 as
well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state employees.
Any members of the commission who are state officials, other than legislative
members, and state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on
the commission, but they shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in
the performance of their duties as members of the commission in the same manner
as they are reimbursed for expenses in their capacities as state officials or
employees. The funds necessary for the reimbursement of the expenses of state
officials, other than legislative members, and state employees shall come from
funds appropriated to or otherwise available to their respective departments.
All other funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this article shall come
from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives and the
Senate.
31-1-34.
(a)
The commission shall have the following duties:
(1)
To study and evaluate the structure of the Department of Human Resources and the
Department of Community Health;
(2)
To review funding for the Department of Human Resources and the Department of
Community Health and the interrelation of the two agencies;
(3)
To evaluate the effectiveness of the Department of Human Resources and the
Department of Community Health in providing required health
services;
(4)
To identify whether there are any deficiencies in the current provision of
government health services provided by the agencies;
(5)
To evaluate and take into consideration results of other states that have
undertaken similar restructurings and reforms;
(6)
To evaluate the impact of any reform or restructuring of the
agencies;
(7)
To determine the effect of any reform or restructuring on federal relationships
and funding; and
(8)
To make recommendations for proposed legislation.
(b)
The commission shall have the following powers:
(1)
To evaluate the operations of the Department of Human Resources and the
Department of Community Health;
(2)
To audit the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Community
Health;
(3)
To request and receive data from and review the records of the Department of
Human Resources and the Department of Community Health, other appropriate
agencies, and health care facilities to the fullest extent allowed by state and
federal law;
(4)
To accept public or private grants, devises, and bequests;
(5)
To enter into all contracts or agreements necessary or incidental to the
performance of its duties; and
(6)
To conduct studies, collect data, or take any other action the commission
considers necessary to fulfill its responsibilities.
(c)
The commission shall be authorized to retain the services of auditors,
attorneys, financial consultants, health care experts, economists, and other
individuals or firms as determined appropriate by the commission.
(d)
Staff support for the commission shall be provided by the Georgia General
Assembly.
(e)
The commission shall issue a final report which shall include proposed
legislation, if any, to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before
December 31, 2007.
31-1-35.
The
commission shall stand abolished and this article shall be repealed on December
31, 2007."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.