CHAPTER 60 SENATE BILL No. 135 An  Act concerning the health care reform legislative oversight committee; expiration date;
repealing K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 46-2501, 46-2502, 46-2503, 46-2504, 46-2505 and 46-2506. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

      Section  1. (a) Health care reform for all Kansans is a matter of gen-
eral public interest. It is a matter that should be addressed by those
persons elected by the voters to make public policy. The prospect of
federal legislation affecting state laws and regulations requires that the
state have the legislative and administrative expertise to promptly make
the necessary adjustments in both laws and regulations as required by
federal law. Further, regardless of the federal proposal enacted, each such
proposal relies ultimately on the state for implementation in the crucial
areas of insurance reform, quality assurance, availability of service and
administrative structure to implement the reform program. The legisla-
ture must be prepared to respond timely but deliberately to safeguard
the public health and welfare of all Kansans.

      (b) There is hereby created the health care reform legislative over-
sight committee, hereinafter ``committee,'' to oversee the necessary
changes in state laws and regulations made necessary by federal law and,
to the fullest extent possible, implement health care reform specific to
Kansas needs.

      (1) The committee shall be composed of 12 members of the legisla-
ture appointed as follows: Three members of the house of representa-
tives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; three
members of the house of representatives appointed by the minority leader
of the house of representatives; three members of the senate appointed
by the president of the senate; and three members of the senate ap-
pointed by the minority leader of the senate. The president of the senate
shall designate a senator member to be chairperson of the committee as
provided in this section. The speaker of the house of representatives shall
designate a representative member to be chairperson of the committee
as provided in this section. The minority leader of the senate shall des-
ignate a senate member to be vice-chairperson of the committee as pro-
vided in this section. The minority leader of the house of representatives
shall designate a representative member to be vice-chairperson of the
committee as provided in this section. The secretary of health and envi-
ronment, the secretary of social and rehabilitation services, the director
of the budget and the commissioner of insurance shall be advisors to the
committee.

      (2) A quorum of the committee shall be seven. All actions of the
committee may be taken by a majority of those present when there is a
quorum. In even-numbered years the chairperson of the committee shall
be the designated member of the senate from the convening of the reg-
ular session of that year until the convening of the regular session of the
next ensuing year. In odd-numbered years, the chairperson of the com-
mittee shall be the designated member of the house of representatives
from the convening of the regular session in that year until the convening
of the regular session in the next ensuing year. In even-numbered years,
the vice-chairperson of the committee shall be the designated member
of the house of representatives from the convening of the regular session
in that year until the convening of the regular session in the next ensuing
year. In odd-numbered years, the vice-chairperson of the committee shall
be the designated member of the senate from the convening of the reg-
ular session of that year until the convening of the regular session of the
next ensuing year. The vice-chairperson shall exercise all of the powers
of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson.

      (3) The committee shall be designated a standing joint committee of
the legislature and shall have such powers and duties as hereinafter pro-
vided. Funding of operations of the committee shall be made from mon-
eys appropriated to the legislature and expenditures of the committee
shall be approved by the legislative coordinating council. Administrative
support for the committee shall be provided by the division of legislative
administrative services.

      (4) The health care reform legislative oversight committee shall meet
on call of the chairperson as authorized by the legislative coordinating
council. All such meetings shall be held in Topeka unless authorized to
be held in a different place by the legislative coordinating council. Mem-
bers of the committee shall receive compensation and travel expenses
and subsistence expenses or allowances as provided in K.S.A. 75-3212
and amendments thereto, when attending meetings of such committee
authorized by the legislative coordinating council.

      (c) The health care reform legislative oversight committee shall:

      (1) Examine changes in federal laws affecting Kansas and propose
such changes in Kansas laws and regulations as are necessary to meet the
federal requirements.

      (2) Cooperate and interact with agencies of the federal government
responsible for health care reform.

      (3) Consider all health care financing and delivery options now in
effect taking into account the actions of other states and the federal gov-
ernment.

      (4) Work cooperatively with all relevant state and federal agencies,
health care providers, payors and consumer groups in the development
of an integrated health plan for all Kansans.

      (5) Receive, analyze and make recommendations related to the state
health care data base developed by the health care data governing board.

      (6) Develop plans for health care cost containment.

      (7) Study and make recommendations for legislative action to inte-
grate health care financing and coverage with other states.

      (8) Recommend legislative actions necessary to assure accessibility of
services to residents of underserved areas.

      (9) Provide recommendations if federal or state laws require inclu-
sion of the medical care component of workers compensation and auto-
mobile insurance into all inclusive health care coverage.

      (10) Make recommendations on tort reform for medical liability and
for state antitrust reform and federal antitrust modifications.

      (d) The committee may appoint advisory subcommittees as it deems
appropriate but shall at least name the following:

      (1) Administrative subcommittee. This subcommittee shall be com-
posed of the secretary of health and environment, the secretary of social
and rehabilitation services, the secretary of aging, the director of the
budget and such other state or local governmental agency officials as are
named by the committee.

      (2) Insurance subcommittee. This subcommittee shall be composed
of the commissioner of insurance, a representative of a domestic insur-
ance carrier, a representative of a foreign insurance company, a repre-
sentative of the managed care industry and such others as are named by
the committee.

      (3) Employer subcommittee. This subcommittee shall be composed
of a representative of statewide business organization having large and
small employer members, a representative of an organization having only
small employer members, a representative of organized labor and such
other members as are named by the committee.

      (4) Provider subcommittee. This subcommittee shall be composed of
a representative of a statewide physicians group, a statewide nursing
group, a statewide hospital group and such other provider groups as are
named by the committee.

      (5) Consumer subcommittee. This subcommittee shall be composed
of representatives of consumers of health care in this state as are named
by the committee.

      (e) All subcommittees shall meet and report at the direction of the
committee, but in no event shall the subcommittees report less than quar-
terly. All meetings shall be subject to the Kansas open meetings act. Mem-
bers of the advisory subcommittees shall not be paid compensation, sub-
sistence allowances, mileage or other expenses as otherwise may be
authorized by law for attending meetings of the advisory subcommittees.

      (f) The committee may introduce legislation.

      (g) All officers and employees of the state shall provide such infor-
mation and assistance as may be deemed necessary by the committee.
Staff assistance shall be provided by the office of the revisor of statutes,
the legislative research department and such other legislative offices and
employees as may be directed by the legislative coordinating council.

      (h) The department of health and environment is hereby designated
the contact agency for the state of Kansas with reference to federal health
care reform measures. The department of health and environment shall
not make any decision with reference to federal health care reform meas-
ures not otherwise authorized by the legislature or which would be in-
consistent with existing law.

      (i) The provisions of this section shall expire on July 1, 2001.

 Sec.  2. K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 46-2501, 46-2502, 46-2503, 46-2504, 46-
2505 and 46-2506 are hereby repealed.

 Sec.  3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.

Approved April 5, 1999.
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