Joint Labor Committee Meeting Summary (November 7-8, 2002)

The Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee met in Casper and considered legislation related to workforce issues, cost shifting, prescription drugs, insurance, cost containment, medical malpractice and medical error issues, taxes and public health issues, and Department of Employment issues.  The Committee voted to sponsor legislation relating to nursing education and an intergovernmental transfer program related to Medicaid.  The Committee will also sponsor legislation related to group insurance plans and will sponsor tobacco tax legislation and malt beverage excise tax legislation.  The Committee will sponsor legislation to modify the children’s health insurance program and legislation to create a health care commission. 

The Committee voted to sponsor a worker’s compensation bill relating to professional athletes and to sponsor legislation related to unemployment insurance.  The Committee will sponsor a resolution related to the equalization of tax treatment.  The Committee will also sponsor legislation to lower unemployment taxes for employers.  Finally, LSO was directed to draft a bill related to the Governor’s vetoes in the 2002 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 100, related to the Department of Workforce Services.  The Committee also discussed other legislation and issues in the areas listed above that will be considered at the December meeting.