Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns grant funding for Community Health Law Project; appropriates $100,000.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on March 8, 2012, with amendments.
An Act concerning a grant for the Community Health Law Project, amending P.L.1973, c.337, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 23 of P.L.1973, c.337 (C.26:2J-23) is amended to read as follows:
23. Every health maintenance organization subject to this act shall pay to the commissioner the following fees:
a. for filing an application for a certificate of authority or amendment thereto, $100.00;
b. for filing each annual report, $10.00; and
c. for the purpose of supporting the activities of the Department of Health and Senior Services associated with the regulation of health maintenance organizations, and as otherwise provided in this subsection, $1.50 per life per year, with payment being made annually no later than July 15 for the preceding calendar year. Payments made by a health maintenance organization pursuant to this act shall not in any way reduce payments that may be owed by a health maintenance organization pursuant to P.L.1995, c.156 (C.17:1C-19 et seq.) and subsequent amendments thereto. No such payment shall be required for any per life per year that is funded through the Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) [, the "Children's Health Care Coverage Program" established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.272 (C.30:4I-1 et seq.),] or the ["FamilyCare Health Coverage Program"] NJ FamilyCare Program established pursuant to [P.L.2000, c.71 (C.30:4J-1 et seq.)] P.L.2005, c.156 (C.30:4J-8 et al.).
In accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations directing that additional fees be paid.
[From] In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012 and each fiscal year thereafter, the first $100,000 of revenue from fees collected under the provisions of 1[this]1 subsection 1c. of this section1 [c. of this section, the Legislature] shall [in each fiscal year appropriate to the community health law project the sum of $100,000 to] be used to fund a grant to the Community Health Law Project in support of a program to provide any [senior citizen] resident of this State who is covered as an enrollee in or beneficiary of [a health plan administered by a health maintenance organization] any public health care coverage program or private health insurance plan with information concerning the person's rights under the program or plan and assistance with the procedures for receiving the benefits to which the person is entitled under the program or plan. The Department of Health and Senior Services shall disburse the grant funds no later than July 30 of each year for the preceding calendar year.
(cf: P.L.2002, c.34, s.18)
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Senior Services the sum of $100,000 to fund the grant program to the Community Health Law Project.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be effective for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.