input: [Bill #] HB12-1245 [Short Title] Health Care Options Gov Employees [Sponsors] FIELDS [Most Recent Status] 03/28/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely [Calendar Notification] NOT ON CALENDAR [News Links] No news items found [Bill Summary] 
output: The bill creates a 13-member group purchase of health care insurance by government employees task force (task force) to meet in the 2012 interim to study issues involving the pooling of resources among state and local government employees in the state to purchase health care insurance and related products, report its findings and recommendations, and, if appropriate, propose statutory modifications. The bill specifies the required qualifications of the members of the task force and additional requirements governing the appointing authorities and procedures of the task force. The task force is required to study, make recommendations, and report findings on all matters relating to the group purchase of health care insurance by government employees, including, without limitation, innovative solutions and strategies for leveraging the purchasing power of state and local governments to expand health care coverage for the employees of such governments and their families at the lowest cost to the taxpayer while addressing any impediments to such goals provided by federal or state law. The task force is required to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the relevant committees of the general assembly by December 15, 2012. The task force is required to meet at least 4 times, with the first meeting occurring no later than August 1, 2012. Meetings of the task force are public meetings. The task force is required to solicit and accept reports and public testimony and may request other sources to provide testimony, written comments, and other relevant data to the task force. Members of the task force will serve without compensation and will not be reimbursed for their expenses. Any staff assistance required by the task force shall be performed by existing employees of the department of personnel within existing appropriations.