60^th WYOMING LEGISLATURE

INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDIES

2009 INTERIM

JOINT LABOR, HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES INTERIM COMMITTEE

Standard Budget:     $30,000.00

Priority #: 1     Response to Federal Initiatives

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and other pending federal legislation is expected to have greater than usual federal impact during this interim on the committee's jurisdictional areas.  The committee will analyze and respond as necessary and appropriate to federal program and funding changes and the 'strings' attached to those changes.

Priority #: 2     Workplace Safety

Wyoming has the highest per capita rate of workplace fatalities.  The Committee's main legislative task during the 2008 interim resulted in HB54, providing for increased benefit levels and various programmatic reforms.  The Committee has been informed that the Governor's Office plans a significant initiative among interested parties to address workplace safety.  The Committee will receive and consider any recommended legislative changes within its jurisdiction coming from the Governor's initiative.

Priority #: 3     Health Care Provider Uncompensated Care

The Committee continues to hear that one of the main causes of health care provider recruitment and retention problems, necessarily related to access and affordability problems, is the inadequate level or total lack of compensation for a significant amount of health care.  The Committee will review reimbursement of health care facilities and other providers, especially in the Medicaid, KidCare, state employee health insurance and workers' compensation areas.

Priority #: 4     Review of Reports

The Committee will receive approximately 20 statutorily-required reports from executive branch agencies.  The Committee will analyze those reports and respond as needed and appropriate with proposed legislation.