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1997 SESSION

976191176
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 634
Offered January 20, 1997
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study methods for raising money to pay for prescription medication for indigent individuals.
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Patrons-- Cranwell and Johnson
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Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
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WHEREAS, the Commonwealth is home to thousands of individuals who are indigent, many of whom cannot afford even the bare necessities of life; and

WHEREAS, it is a well-known fact that health care costs have been on the rise for many years now; and

WHEREAS, included in such costs are prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, most indigent individuals have no health insurance and are especially hard-hit by such rising costs; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study methods for raising money to pay for prescription medication for indigent individuals.

The joint subcommittee shall be composed of twelve members, to include nine legislative members and three nonlegislative citizen members as follows: five members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; four members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and three citizens-at-large, two to be appointed by the Speaker of the House and one to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall explore the feasibility of using a percentage of lottery profits to subsidize an Indigent Medication Program in the Commonwealth. In addition, it shall study the development of a new lottery game, to be run once a year, the proceeds of which would go to subsidize the Indigent Medication Program.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $7,500.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Joint Commission on Health Care and the State Lottery Department. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1998 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.