A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO direct the commissioner of insurance to study and make recommendations to the general assembly on the ESTABLISHment of A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL ALLOW THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE IN certain COUNTIES TO PROVide group HEALTH INSURANCE COVERING all MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The purpose of this act is to determine whether allowing trade associations to purchase group health insurance will result in health insurance coverage for small employers at more affordable rates and, at the same time, not have an adverse effect on group rates for small employers that are not part of a trade association.  To this end, the Commissioner of Insurance shall recommend to the General Assembly a design for a pilot project to allow selected chambers of commerce to purchase health insurance from entities authorized to offer insurance in this State beyond what is allowed under current law.  The Commissioner's recommendation shall address all elements of the pilot necessary to define it, including but not limited to the criteria, scope, and duration of the pilot and the local or geographic dispersion of the pilot area, including Piedmont Triad Chambers of Commerce. The Commissioner of Insurance shall report to the General Assembly on the Commissioner's recommendations and the reasons therefore not later than the reconvening of the 2007 General Assembly, Regular Session 2008.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.