SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 78

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Ramsay L. Gorham

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GROUP BENEFITS COMMITTEE TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO REVIEW STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the Group Benefits Act, the group benefits committee is responsible for reviewing and advising the director of the risk management division of the general services department on all group benefits coverages; and

     WHEREAS, only two state employees are members of the group benefits committee; and

     WHEREAS, numerous legislative initiatives have been proposed to revise or reform state employees' health care benefits and contributions; and

     WHEREAS, the cost of health care and health insurance has continued to increase by ten to fifteen percent per year over the past several years; and

     WHEREAS, various studies estimate that seventy to ninety percent of all illnesses are preventable; and

     WHEREAS, numerous studies have identified healthy lifestyles that include appropriate nutrition and exercise as the best preventive medicine; and

     WHEREAS, state employees are concerned about rising health care costs and the impact on their take-home pay; and

     WHEREAS, state employees may have their own perspective on the need for mandated benefits, cost-sharing provisions, catastrophic coverages and other employee-choice options; and

     WHEREAS, state employees are concerned about their own health as well as that of their families;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the group benefits committee be requested to convene a task force to review the health care plan afforded by state government to its employees and make recommendations for changes to benefit structures, contributions, wellness programs, tax or other incentives for health care coverage and other initiatives to control health care costs or at least the rate of growth; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include at least twelve state employees, three-fourths of whom are subject to the Personnel Act, with no more than one employee from a single department or agency; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force present its findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee by November 1, 2004 and provide two copies of its written report to the legislative council service library; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the group benefits committee.

- 3 -