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2007 SESSION

074326212
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 704
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 10, 2007
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the creation of a prepaid long-term care program for citizens of the Commonwealth. Report.
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Patron-- Amundson
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, on average, the life expectancy of the average American is now nearly 80 years; and

WHEREAS, with our increased life expectancy many Americans are finding it more and more difficult to finance their retirement; and

WHEREAS, by the year 2030, the number of seniors requiring long-term health care will more than double; and

WHEREAS, according to a 2006 AARP report, fewer than 25 percent of Americans of age 45 or older can correctly estimate the real costs of long-term care; and

WHEREAS, fewer than one-third of Americans of age 45 or older report that they have already purchased long-term care insurance; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study a prepaid long-term care program for citizens of the Commonwealth. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 15 members that shall consist of eight legislative members and seven ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: five members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources or her designee, the Commissioner of Health or his designee, the Commissioner of Social Services or his designee, the Commissioner of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services or his designee, the Commissioner of the Department for the Aging or her designee, the Commissioner of Rehabilitative Services or his designee, and the Director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services or his designee shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall examine the Virginia College Savings Plan as a model and determine whether a similar program to help Virginia's citizens save for their long-term health care is feasible. In its deliberations, the joint subcommittee shall consider the input and recommendations of various interested parties.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2007 interim and four meetings for the 2008 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $8,000 for each year without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2007, and for the second year by November 30, 2008, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2007 interim.