AN ACT relating to mandated health insurance benefits.
     Amend KRS 6.948 to define "mandated health benefit"; require the sponsor of a bill that contains a mandated health benefit to request and have prepared and attached to the bill a financial impact statement before final consideration by a standing committee; require a bill that does not have attached a financial impact statement as required to be retained in the orders of the day but passed over until the statement is attached; permit members by a majority vote to require preparation of a financial impact statement on any bill and any amendment in the orders of the day; require a member proposing an amendment from the floor which contains a mandated health benefit to cause a financial impact statement to be prepared and attached to the amendment; provide that until a financial statement is prepared and attached to an amendment that contains a mandated health benefit, action on the amendment shall not be in order; require the Department of Insurance to prepare financial impact statements; require the sponsor to request the department as soon as practicable to prepare a financial impact statement; provide that if the request is made prior to the sponsor filing the measure, the department shall keep the measure confidential until the sponsor authorizes public distribution; direct the department to keep all financial impact statements and requests for statements confidential until the person requesting the statement authorizes public distribution; authorize a majority of the members present at a meeting of a standing committee to request the Department of Insurance to prepare a financial impact statement; require the financial impact statement to be in writing and signed by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee; require the financial impact statement to determine the extent to which the mandated health benefit will increase or decrease administrative expenses, the extent to which it will increase or decrease premiums, and the impact it will have on the total cost of health care in the Commonwealth; provide that if the sponsor requests the financial impact statement prior to filing the bill, the statement shall be completed as soon as possible but no later than 30 days after the request unless the sponsor and the department agree otherwise; require the financial statement to be completed as soon as possible but no later than 30 days after the request by a sponsor of a measure before a standing committee or the chair of the standing committee; require the financial impact statement to be completed as soon as possible after the request by a majority vote of the House or Senate or by the sponsor of a floor amendment.

     Jan 8-introduced in House
     Jan 9-to State Government (H)
     Feb 14-posted in committee
     Feb 18-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
     Feb 19-2nd reading, to Rules
     Feb 26-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, February 27, 2003
     Feb 28-3rd reading, passed 95-0; received in Senate
     Mar 3-to Banking and Insurance (S)
     Mar 5-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar
     Mar 6-2nd reading, to Rules
     Mar 24-posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Monday, March 24, 2003
     Mar 25-3rd reading, passed 38-0; received in House; enrolled, signed by each presiding officer; delivered to Governor
     Apr 3-signed by Governor (Acts ch. 193)