HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 47
INTRODUCED BY FRENCH, COHENOUR, STOKER
BY REQUEST OF THE HOUSE HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING THAT AN INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDY THE FUNDING, EXPENDITURES, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MONTANA'S STATEWIDE GENETICS PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, the statewide genetics program has served Montanans since its creation in the 1960s at what was then known as the Boulder River School and Hospital; and
WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature established the statewide genetics program in the Department of Public Health and Human Services in 1985; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Health and Human Services issues a request for proposals to contract for the statewide genetics program; and
WHEREAS, the statewide genetics program provides unique clinical and laboratory services to diagnose and treat genetic disorders, as well as to prevent genetic disorders by determining a person's risk factors and providing information to help manage high-risk pregnancies; and
WHEREAS, the statewide genetics program holds clinics in towns throughout the state each year to allow Montanans to obtain genetics services without traveling to Helena; and
WHEREAS, if the statewide genetics program no longer existed, Montanans could obtain similar genetic services only by going out of state; and
WHEREAS, the statewide genetics program is highly respected and well-recognized within the field of genetics; and
WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature in 1985 established a fee on each Montana resident insured under any individual or group disability or health insurance policy, including those insured through the state employee insurance plan, to fund the statewide genetics program; and
WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature has amended the genetics program fee four times since its imposition and is again considering a change in the level of the fee; and
WHEREAS, creating a stable and equitable source of funding will benefit not only the statewide genetics program, but also Montanans who use the program and the Montana economy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
That the Legislative Council be requested to designate an appropriate interim committee, pursuant to section 5-5-217, MCA, or direct sufficient staff resources to:
(1) study the history of the funding of the statewide genetics program established in section 50-19-211, MCA;
(2) review the current public and private sources of the program's funding;
(3) review program expenditures;
(4) evaluate the effectiveness of the program by examining factors that include but are not limited to the number of people served by the program, the number of communities visited by the program, and the types of services provided; and
(5) make recommendations for maintaining an effective statewide genetics program, including but not limited to recommendations for providing a stable and equitable source of funding for the program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the study is assigned to staff, any findings or conclusions be presented to and reviewed by an appropriate committee designated by the Legislative Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all aspects of the study, including presentation and review requirements, be concluded prior to September 15, 2008.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the final results of the study, including any findings, conclusions, comments, or recommendations of the appropriate committee, be reported to the 61st Legislature.
- END -
Latest
Version of HJ 47 (HJ0047.ENR)
Processed for the Web on April 27, 2007 (10:28am)
New language in a bill appears underlined, deleted material appears stricken.
Sponsor names are handwritten on introduced bills, hence do not appear on the bill until it is reprinted.
See the status of this bill for the bill's primary sponsor.
Status of this Bill | 2007
Legislature | Leg. Branch Home
All versions of this bill (PDF
format)
Authorized print version w/line numbers
(PDF format)
[ NEW SEARCH ]
Prepared by Montana Legislative Services
(406) 444-3064