SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 1

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR FAUSTMAN

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 1: UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE STATE PROVIDES FOR THE REGULATION OF THE BUSINESS OF HEALTH INSURANCE AND FOR THE REGULATION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICE PLANS. EXISTING LAW ALSO PROVIDES FOR VARIOUS STATE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE PROGRAMS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADOPT THE PREMISE THAT HEALTH CARE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT AND CREATE A UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE, AS SPECIFIED, SO THAT CALIFORNIA BECOMES A LEADER IN HEALTH CARE AND A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES TO FOLLOW.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 1: RELATING TO UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

WHEREAS, SINCE 1883 ALL THE INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD HAVE ADOPTED UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, EXCEPT THE UNITED STATES; AND

WHEREAS, 45 MILLION AMERICANS, INCLUDING SEVEN AND ONE-HALF MILLION CALIFORNIANS HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE; AND

WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES SPENDS TWICE AS MUCH PER CAPITA IN HEALTH CARE THAN THE NEXT MOST COSTLY NATION; AND

WHEREAS, 45 PERCENT OF CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES DO NOT PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES; AND

WHEREAS, HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS MAY DISSOLVE AT ANY TIME DUE TO A PERCEIVED LACK OF PROFIT, AND HAVE LEFT AREAS OF THE STATE WITH NO HEALTH CARE COVERAGE; AND

WHEREAS, HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES MAY RAISE RATES, PREMIUMS, AND COPAYMENTS, AS WELL AS REDUCE SERVICES AND PAYMENTS TO HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AT WILL; AND

WHEREAS, THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CURRENTLY IN PLACE IN CALIFORNIA COSTS 15 TO 30 PERCENT MORE THAN MEDICARE FOR ADMINISTRATION; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT;

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2008 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ADOPT THE PREMISE THAT HEALTH CARE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT AND CREATE A UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, MENTAL HEALTH CARE; REASONABLY PRICED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, REHABILITATION, AND LONG-TERM CARE, SO THAT CALIFORNIA BECOMES A LEADER IN THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE AND A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES TO FOLLOW; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 08 22045

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