BILL NUMBER: SB 2	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Speier

                        DECEMBER 2, 2002

   An act to relating to health care coverage.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 2, as introduced, Speier.  Health care coverage.
   Existing law does not require each employer to provide health
insurance to its employees.
   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to develop
an employer-based health care coverage system that provides health
insurance to every employee in California.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  no.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) A majority of Californians receive health care coverage
through their employers as a result of employment, however, fewer
employers in California provide health care coverage than the
nationwide average.
   (b) In 2001, there were almost 6.3 million uninsured Californians,
or 21.1 percent of Californians under 65 years of age.
   (c) Slightly over one-half of the uninsured adults in California
were employed in 2001.
   (d) Those employers who provide for their employees' health care
are also absorbing the costs of the uninsured.  This creates an
unfair business climate for those companies that provide health care
coverage for their employees.  If economic competition is to be fair
and equitable, all employers should absorb these costs equally.
Companies that drop coverage simply shift the cost to those
businesses that continue to maintain coverage partially causing
premiums to rise.
   (e) Uniform employer health care coverage would substantially
reduce the number of Californians without health care coverage and
would reduce the average cost per employee of providing health care
coverage and would create a level playing field for all businesses in
California.
   (f) Appropriate and necessary health care leads to a healthier and
more productive work force.
   (g) All Californians have a right to health care coverage and the
health care system needs universal health care coverage in order to
remain viable.  The health care system cannot continue to absorb the
cost of uncompensated health care.  Without universal health care
coverage, the health care system will collapse.
   (h) It is the intent of the Legislature to develop an
employer-based health care coverage system that provides health
insurance to every employee. It is further the intent of the
Legislature that the employer-based health care coverage system be
the base upon which universal health care coverage in California is
built.