[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1044 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1044

     To establish the Commission on Medical Malpractice Insurance.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 27, 2003

   Mr. Wynn introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To establish the Commission on Medical Malpractice Insurance.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. COMMISSION ON MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the Commission on Medical Malpractice Insurance (in this section 
referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Duty.--The duty of the Commission shall be to study the cause 
of rising medical malpractice premium rates by medical malpractice 
insurance carriers in the United States during the 20-year period 
ending with the date of the enactment of this Act, which shall include 
(but not be limited to) study of the following matters:
            (1) The investment, accounting, and pricing practices of 
        such carriers.
            (2) Jury awards in medical malpractice cases.
    (c) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, each 
of whom shall be an expert in matters relating to the duty of the 
Commission and shall serve without pay. The members shall be appointed 
as follows:
            (1) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (2) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (3) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (4) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the House 
        of Representatives.
    (d) Staff.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
Commission may appoint and fix the pay of personnel as it considers 
appropriate.
    (e) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly 
from any department or agency of the United States information 
necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the 
Commission, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that 
information to the Commission.
    (f) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and 
agencies of the United States.
    (g) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report. The 
report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and 
conclusions of the Commission, together with its recommendations for 
legislation or administrative action and any other matter that the 
Commission considers appropriate.
    (h) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate upon submitting 
its report under subsection (g).
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations. There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
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