REFERENCE TITLE: vaccines; study committee.

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature Second Regular Session 2014

HB 2101

Introduced by Representatives Brophy McGee, Carter, McCune Davis: Boyer, Lovas

 

AN ACT

 

Establishing the vaccine financing and availability study committee.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Vaccine financing and availability study committee; report; delayed repeal

A.  The vaccine financing and availability study committee is established consisting of the following members:

1.  Two members of the senate who are members of different political parties and who are appointed by the president of the senate.  The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

2.  Two members of the house of representatives who are members of different political parties and who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

3.  Two members who are representatives of different health care insurers that are licensed pursuant to title 20, Arizona Revised Statutes, and that offer products in the commercial market that include coverage for childhood and adolescent vaccines.  The president of the senate shall appoint these members.

4.  Two health professionals who are licensed pursuant to title 32, Arizona Revised Statutes, whose current practice includes administering childhood and adolescent vaccines and who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives as follows:

(a)  A physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17, Arizona Revised Statutes, and who specializes in pediatrics.

(b)  A physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17, Arizona Revised Statutes, and who specializes in family medicine.

5.  Two directors of local health departments who are appointed by the president of the senate as follows:

(a)  A public health director from a county having a population of at least three million persons.

(b)  A public health director from a county having a population of less than two hundred five thousand but more than fifty thousand persons.

6.  One member who is a representative of an Arizona nonprofit statewide coalition whose mission is to foster a comprehensive, sustained community program for the immunization of Arizonans against vaccine‑preventable diseases and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

7.  One member who is a representative of a pharmaceutical company that manufacturers a childhood vaccine product and who is appointed by the president of the senate.

8.  One member who is a representative of a statewide association of pharmacists and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. 

9.  The director of the department of health services or the director's designee.

10.  The director of the Arizona health care cost containment system or the director's designee.

B.  Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation or reimbursement of expenses.

C.  The committee shall develop recommendations regarding the following:

1.  The existing system of the financing and availability of childhood and adolescent vaccine products and the potential impacts on the health care system, taxpayers and the community at large.

2.  The costs associated with, and the adequacy of reimbursement levels for, childhood and adolescent vaccines administered by private and public providers in all counties in this state.

D.  The committee may:

1.  Request information, data and reports from any state agency, political subdivision or other persons or businesses involved in the public or private financing or administration of childhood or adolescent vaccines. 

2.  Hold hearings and take testimony from affected persons, including members of the public.

E.  The committee shall maintain documents in a manner that preserves the confidentiality of confidential business information that may be disclosed to the committee during the course of its business.

F.  The committee may use the services and expertise of the staff and facilities of the senate and the house of representatives.

G.  The committee shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations for legislative action on or before December 15, 2014 to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

H.  This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2015.