GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1003

Short Title:  Health Care Oversight Comm.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Gulley, Perdue, and Forrester.

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Referred to:  Rules and Operations of the Senate.

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April 21, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE HEALTH CARE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. Chapter 120 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new Article to read:
"ARTICLE 12K.
"Joint Legislative Health Care Oversight Committee.
"§ 120-70.96.  Creation and membership of Joint Legislative Health Care Oversight Committee.
There is established the Joint Legislative Health Care Oversight Committee.  The Committee consists of 14 members as follows:
(1)	Seven members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, at least three of whom are members of the minority party; and
(2)	Seven members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least three of whom are members of the minority party.
Terms of the Committee are for two years and begin on the convening of the General Assembly in each odd-numbered year, except the terms of the initial members, which begin on appointment.  Members may complete a term of service on the Committee even if they do not seek reelection or are not reelected to the General Assembly, but resignation or removal from service in the General Assembly constitutes resignation or removal from service on the Committee.
A member continues to serve until the member's successor is appointed.  A vacancy shall be filled within 30 days by the officer who made the original appointment.
"§ 120-70.97.  Purpose and powers of Committee.
(a)	The Joint Legislative Health Care Oversight Committee shall review, on a continuing basis, the provision of health care and health care coverage to the citizens of this State, in order to make ongoing recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to improve health care for North Carolinians.  To this end, the Committee shall study the delivery, availability, and cost of health care in North Carolina.  The Committee may also study other matters related to health care and health care coverage in this State.
(b)	The Committee may make interim reports to the General Assembly on matters for which it may report to a regular session of the General Assembly.  A report to the General Assembly may contain any legislation needed to implement a recommendation of the Committee.
"§ 120-70.98.  Organization of Committee.
(a)	The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each designate a cochair of the Joint Legislative Health Care Oversight Committee. The Committee shall meet at least once a quarter and may meet at other times upon the joint call of the cochairs.
(b)	A quorum of the Committee is eight members. No action may be taken except by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present. While in the discharge of its official duties, the Committee has the powers of a joint committee under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4.
(c)	Members of the Committee receive subsistence and travel expenses as provided in G.S. 120-3.1. The Committee may contract for consultants or hire employees in accordance with G.S. 120-32.02. The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. Upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission, the Supervisors of Clerks of the Senate and of the House of Representatives shall assign clerical staff to the Committee. The expenses for clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee."
Section 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly, the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year for the Joint Legislative Health Care Oversight Committee.
Section 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.