Colorado Legislative Council Staff

REVISED NO FISCAL IMPACT

(replaces fiscal impact dated April 26, 1999)

TITLE:            CONCERNING SMALL GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE.

Summary of Assessment

            The reengrossed bill, authorizes the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) to conduct an independent, objective, academically peer-reviewed study of the "Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Program Act". The bill directs UNC to convene a meeting of all interested persons by no later than June 15, 1999, including affected health insurance providers and consumers, and the Division of Insurance to discuss the resources available to, and necessary for, completion of the study, including financial and volunteer personal services. The bill requires UNC to report the findings and conclusions of the study to the General Assembly by December 1, 1999 and specifies a number of important objectives.

            The bill provides that the study be funded by donations, grants, and gifts from private sector organizations. In the event that sufficient revenues are not received, the bill requires UNC to report such to the General Assembly, by August 15, 1999, and discontinue any effort to complete the study. The bill specifies that the President of UNC shall have the power to expend funds received for purposes of the study. The reengrossed bill, as amended, directs that moneys collected for the study authorized by the bill be deposited into the Grants and Contracts Fund established for the University of Northern Colorado's Research Corporation.

             It is estimated that UNC will spend approximately $60,000 to conduct this study and prepare a report of its findings and conclusions to the General Assembly. The Grants and Contracts Fund administered by the University of Northern Colorado's Research Corporation is an off-budget fund. As such, the moneys received for the study as well as the expenditures for the study will not affect the expenditures or revenues of the state. Therefore, this bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact to any state agency or unit of local government.

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