17B:27D-6 Duties of commission relative to review of bills.

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6. It shall be the duty of the commission to review any bill introduced in either House of the Legislature that would require a carrier to provide a mandated health benefit, as provided in this section.

a. Whenever a bill containing a mandated health benefit is introduced in the Legislature, the chairman of the standing reference committee to which the bill has been referred in the House in which it was introduced shall, upon introduction of the bill, request the commission to prepare a written report that assesses the social and financial effects and the medical efficacy of the proposed mandated health benefit.

If the bill is subsequently amended, a prime sponsor or the presiding officer of the House in which the bill is pending may request the commission to amend or revise its report to reflect the changes made by the amendment.

(1)For the period ending December 31, 2003, the commission shall complete its review of a bill within 90 days after the date the review is requested, and provide its comments and recommendations in writing to the prime sponsor, committee chairman and presiding officer of the House in which the bill is pending. The commission may request an extension prior to the 90th day, in which case the presiding officer of the House in which the bill is pending may grant an extension of up to 45 days for the commission to complete its review.

(2)Beginning January 1, 2004, the commission shall complete its review of a bill within 60 days after the date the review is requested, and provide its comments and recommendations in writing to the prime sponsor, committee chairman and presiding officer of the House in which the bill is pending. The commission may request an extension prior to the 60th day, in which case the presiding officer of the House in which the bill is pending may grant an extension of up to 45 days for the commission to complete its review.

c. The House or standing reference committee, as applicable, shall not consider or vote upon the bill until either:

(1)the commission completes its review and provides its comments and recommendations in writing to the prime sponsor, committee chairman and presiding officer of the House in which the bill is pending, or

(2)the 90th or 60th day, as applicable, after the date the review is requested, if no extension was granted, or the designated day for the end of the extension period, whichever is later.

(1)If the presiding officer of the House in which the bill is pending determines that the bill is an urgent matter, the presiding officer shall so notify in writing the commission and the chairman of the standing reference committee to which the bill was referred, and the House or committee may consider and vote upon the bill as soon as practicable.

(2)If the chairman of the standing reference committee to which the bill is referred, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, determines that the bill is of such an urgent nature that it would seriously impair the public health to wait for the commission to issue its report, the chairman shall so notify in writing the presiding officer of the House in which the bill is pending, and the commission, of that determination, and the standing reference committee, with the agreement of the presiding officer of the House, may consider and vote upon the bill as soon as practicable.

L.2003, c.193, s.6; amended 2012, c.17, s.63.