HOUSE BILL 610
47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006
INTRODUCED BY
W. Ken Martinez
AN ACT
RELATING TO HEALTH; PROVIDING FOR CONTINGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF A HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TRUST FUND; PROVIDING FOR ANNUAL DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TRUST FUND AND AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE OF THOSE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE PURPOSES; CREATING A BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TRUST FUND--INVESTMENT--DISTRIBUTION.--
A. If a "health care coverage trust fund" is created in the state treasury as a constitutional amendment by vote of the people in the 2006 general election, money in the fund shall not be expended for any purpose, except that an annual appropriation may be made from the fund in accordance with Subsection B of this section for health care coverage purposes.
B. For fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal year thereafter, an annual appropriation may be made from the health care coverage trust fund, in an amount based on recommendations of the blue ribbon health care coverage task force, for any health care coverage or insurance program for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, illness or injury; provided that the program meets the criteria of the health care coverage task force. Money in the fund shall not revert.
Section 2. BLUE RIBBON HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TASK FORCE CREATED.--
A. The "blue ribbon health care coverage task force" is created. The task force shall function from the date of its appointment until the first day of December prior to the second session of the forty-eighth legislature.
B. The blue ribbon health care coverage task force shall consist of nine members. The governor shall appoint three public members. The New Mexico legislative council shall appoint three members from the house of representatives and three members from the senate and shall designate the chair and vice chair of the task force. Members shall be appointed from each house so as to give the two major political parties in each house the same proportionate representation on the task force as prevails in each house. No action shall be taken by the task force if a majority of the total membership from either house on the task force rejects the action.
C. After its appointment, the blue ribbon health care coverage task force shall hold one organizational meeting to develop a work plan and budget for the ensuing interim. The work plan and budget shall be submitted to the New Mexico legislative council for approval. Upon approval of the work plan and budget, the task force shall:
(1) examine the public and private financing of health care in the state;
(2) inventory, consider and take testimony on the various unmet health care coverage and access needs in the state and determine or devise a method for setting priorities among those unmet needs;
(3) study the impact of appropriating distributions from the health care coverage trust fund, as provided by law, and determine whether any changes should be made in the law regarding the funds or the distribution mechanism;
(4) develop a formula or guidelines for determining which purposes, programs or activities will be funded annually, using categories generally for household incomes below one hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level, between one hundred fifty and three hundred percent of the federal poverty level and over three hundred percent of the federal poverty level; and
(5) review any other statutes, constitutional provisions, regulations and court decisions relevant to the use of health care coverage.
D. The blue ribbon health care coverage task force shall report its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, for the consideration of the second session of the forty-eighth legislature. The report and proposed legislation shall be submitted to the New Mexico legislative council on or before December 15, 2007.
E. The staff for the blue ribbon health care coverage task force shall be provided by the legislative council service.
Section 3. TRANSFER--CONTINGENCY.--One hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) is transferred from the general fund to the health care coverage trust fund for distribution pursuant to law; provided that:
A. the health care coverage trust fund is established in the constitution of New Mexico pursuant to a constitutional amendment adopted by the people in the 2006 general election; and
B. no distribution or expenditure of the transferred money shall be made until on or after January 1, 2007.
Section 4. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.
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