Resolve, To Create a Committee To Explore Regional Cooperation for Affordable Health Insurance
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1281
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: TEPLER, FOLEY, BLIER, BROOKS, GATTINE, PERRY, BREEN, GRATWICK

Legislative Document
No. 1281
H.P. 923
House of Representatives, March 14, 2019
Resolve, To Create a Committee To Explore Regional Cooperation 
for Affordable Health Insurance
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TEPLER of Topsham.
Cosponsored by Senator FOLEY of York and
Representatives: BLIER of Buxton, BROOKS of Lewiston, FOLEY of Biddeford, GATTINE 
of Westbrook, PERRY of Calais, Senators: BREEN of Cumberland, GRATWICK of 
Penobscot, SANBORN, H. of Cumberland.
Sec. 1.  Committee established.  Resolved:  That the Committee To Explore 
Regional Cooperation for Affordable Health Insurance, referred to in this resolve as "the 
committee," is established.
Sec. 2.  Committee membership.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the committee consists of 6 members appointed as follows:
1.  One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;
2.  One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House;
3.  The Commissioner of Health and Human Services, or the commissioner's 
designee;
4.  The Superintendent of Insurance, or the superintendent's designee;
5.  The Executive Director of the Maine Health Data Organization, or the executive 
director's designee; and
6.  The Executive Director of Maine Consumers for Affordable Health Care, or the 
executive director's designee.
The member of the Senate and the member of the House of Representatives 
appointed under this section must represent different geographical areas of the State.
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the Senate member is the Senate chair and the 
House of Representatives member is the House chair of the committee.
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of committee.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the committee.  If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority 
for the committee to meet and conduct its business.
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the committee shall explore providing a more 
affordable health insurance option to middle-income individuals and small businesses.  
The committee shall:
1.  Contact relevant government representatives in all New England states and inquire 
as to their interest in working together to create a nonprofit health insurance cooperative.  
If fewer than 3 states respond with interest, the committee shall reach out to Mid-Atlantic 
states; and
2.  Convene a multistate conference to draft a proposal for a nonprofit health 
insurance cooperative.  The proposal must provide greater affordability to increase access 
and must contain relevant data to demonstrate the feasibility of that increased access.
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall provide necessary staffing services to the committee.
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 1, 2021, the committee 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including the draft 
proposal under section 5, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 130th 
Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Committee To Explore Regional Cooperation for 
Affordable Health Insurance, which is required to study providing a more affordable 
health insurance option to middle-income individuals and small businesses, including 
convening a multistate conference to draft a proposal for a nonprofit health insurance 
cooperative.