H 3562 General Bill, By Whipper, J.E. Smith, Rutherford, Jefferson, Sellers, Bales, Brantley, R.L. Brown, Clyburn, Hosey, Mack, Williams and Bowers
Summary: Healthy Communities Capacity Act
    A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ENACTING THE "HEALTHY COMMUNITIES CAPACITY ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 11 TO CHAPTER 6, TITLE 44 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE AT OR UNDER TWO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TO CONTRIBUTE UP TO FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE PREMIUM COST, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PLACE CAPS ON THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT MAY ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM SO THAT NO MORE FUNDS ARE EXPENDED THAN ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROGRAM FROM THE MEDICAID MATCH FUND, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS PROGRAM MUST BE FUNDED FROM A PORTION OF AN ADDITIONAL 4.65 CENTS PER CIGARETTE LICENSE TAX WHICH MUST BE ADJUSTED ANNUALLY BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, AND TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR A MEDICAID WAIVER TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE MEDICAID COVERAGE TO CHILDREN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER WHOSE FAMILY INCOMES DO NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL; TO CREATE THE MEDICAID MATCH FUND INTO WHICH A PORTION OF THE ADDITIONAL CIGARETTE TAX MUST BE DEPOSITED; TO ADD SECTION 12-21-630 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 4.65 CENT LICENSE TAX ON EACH CIGARETTE TO FUND THE SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE REMAINING PORTION OF THIS ADDITIONAL TAX TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEVELOPMENT FUND, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE; AND TO ADD ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 6, TITLE 44 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SECOND CHANCE QUIT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COUNSELING TO EXPANDED SMOKING CESSATION SERVICES FOR MEDICAID SMOKERS WHO HAVE UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO QUIT SMOKING UNDER CURRENT MEDICAID PROGRAMS, TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR A MEDICAID WAIVER FOR THIS PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM MUST BE PROVIDED FROM THE MEDICAID MATCH FUND, AND TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TAKES PRIORITY OVER THE SECOND CHANCE QUIT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
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02/21/07	House	Introduced and read first time HJ-44
02/21/07	House	Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-45
03/21/07	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers