and best method of reorganizing the duties and responsibilities of the two commissions
under one commission and the transfer of certain planning and regulatory functions to
the Maryland Insurance Administration or the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene.

SECTION 11. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before January 1,
2000, the Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Commission and the Health
Services Cost Review Commission, in consultation with the Maryland. Insurance
Commissioner and the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, shall review and
provide a preliminary report, and on or before July 1, 2000, a final report, to the
General Assembly on:

(a) the reorganization of the Health Resources Planning Commission into the
Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Commission as of the date of the report;'

(b) the feasibility, desirability, and most efficient method of reorganizing the
duties and responsibilities of the Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Commission
and Health Services Cost Review Commission under one commission, and

(c) an estimate as to the amount of time necessary to reorganize the Maryland
Health Care Access and Cost Commission and the Health Services Cost Review
Commission under one commission; and

(d) the priorities, approximate time frames, and process for examining major
policy issues during calendar years 2000 and 2001, including:

(1) the certificate of need process;

(2) hospital rate regulation;

(3) State and local health planning; and

(4) any other policy issue the agencies choose to examine.

SECTION 12. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland Health
Care Access and Cost Commission shall conduct a study and make recommendations
on the appropriate funding level for the Commission and user fee allocation among
those currently assessed user fees to fund the Commission. The findings of the study
and recommendations shall be reported, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State
Government Article, to the General Assembly on or before September 1, 2000.

SECTION 13. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That § 19-131 of the Health
General Article as enacted by Section 2 of this Act shall remain in effect for a period
of 3 years and, at the end of September 30, 2002, with no further action required by
the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force.

SECTION 11. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Governor shall
appoint members to fill the two open vacancies that existed as of March 1, 1999 as the
Maryland Health-Care Access and Cost Commission from among the current
members of the Health Resources Planning Commission.