2006 Nebraska Revised Statutes - § 71-7614 — Nebraska Health Care Council; created; duties; grants from the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund; Department of Health and Human Services Finance and Support; duties.

Section 71-7614
Nebraska Health Care Council; created; duties; grants from the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund; Department of Health and Human Services Finance and Support; duties.

(1) The Nebraska Health Care Council is created. The council shall consist of a chairperson and eight additional members appointed by the Governor with the approval of a majority of the Legislature. The members shall be appointed for staggered three-year terms. The council shall include at least one consumer, one health care provider, and one member of a racial or ethnic minority. The Director of Finance and Support or his or her designee shall be a nonvoting, ex officio member of the council. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term. Members of the council shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses as provided in sections 81-1174 to 81-1177. The Department of Health and Human Services Finance and Support shall provide staff support for the council. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure shall also assist the Department of Health and Human Services Finance and Support and the council as may be necessary.

(2) Funds as appropriated by the Legislature from the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund shall be used for grants awarded by the council for public health purposes as defined by the council and adopted in rules and regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services Finance and Support. At least fifteen percent of the funds appropriated for such grants shall be awarded by the council to improve racial and ethnic minority health. Grants awarded under this section shall not exceed three years in duration, except that extensions of up to one year may be granted by the council for good cause. The council shall report all such extensions to the Department of Health and Human Services Finance and Support and to the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature.

(3) The Department of Health and Human Services Finance and Support shall:

(a) In consultation with the council, develop criteria for the awarding of grants from the fund pursuant to this section;

(b) Approve or disapprove decisions by the council regarding the selection of projects to be funded and the distribution of project funding;

(c) In consultation with the council, establish standards, formats, procedures, and timelines for the successful implementation of approved projects;

(d) In consultation with the council, assist grant recipients in determining the effectiveness of the project and measure the accomplishment of the grant objectives;

(e) Provide annual reports to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the projects. Each report shall include a listing of priorities established by the council for grants awarded under this section, the number of applicants and approved applicants for such grants, an overview of the various funded projects, and detailed reports of the cost of such projects;

(f) In consultation with the council, adopt and promulgate rules and regulations establishing criteria, standards, and procedures regarding the selection and administration of funded projects; and

(g) Require recipients of grants under this section to provide such data relating to the funded projects as the department deems necessary.

Source:

Laws 1998, LB 1070, § 10

Laws 1999, LB 115, § 4

Laws 1999, LB 324, § 5

Laws 2000, LB 1427, § 10

Laws 2000, LB 1436, § 2

Laws 2001, LB 209, § 33

Laws 2001, LB 692, § 19

Laws 2003, LB 412, § 9

~Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska