04/11/2000 03:11 PM House HES

HB 149 - INSURANCE:  MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Number 0661                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the next  order of business as House Bill                                                              
No. 149, "An  Act relating to insurance coverage  for treatment of                                                              
mental illness  and substance abuse;  repealing provisions  of ch.                                                              
8,  SLA  1997, that  terminates  required  mental  health  benefit                                                              
coverage;  and  providing  for  an  effective  date."    He  asked                                                              
Representative Coghill  to give a subcommittee report.   [The bill                                                              
had been assigned to a subcommittee on 4/10/99.]                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Number 0637                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL  reported that  the subcommittee on  HB 149                                                              
could not  come to  a conclusion  on the matter,  so the  bill was                                                              
coming back before  the committee for perusal.   He personally had                                                              
strong objections  to this bill going on, considering  the mandate                                                              
of mental  health insurance  coverage at  this time, but  couldn't                                                              
get a  consensus in  the subcommittee.   He  recommended that  the                                                              
committee not move the bill out of committee.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Number 0574                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE  made a motion to move HB  149 from committee                                                              
with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL objected.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
A  roll call  vote  was taken.   Representatives  Brice,  Kemplen,                                                              
Whitaker  and   Dyson  voted   in  favor   of  moving   the  bill.                                                              
Representatives    Coghill   and    Green   voted   against    it.                                                              
Representative Morgan  was absent.   Therefore, HB 149  moved from                                                              
the  House   Health,  Education   and  Social  Services   Standing                                                              
Committee by a vote of 4-2.