S.J.R. 3

1

RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING
2 CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING FOR STATE
3 CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM
4 2007 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
7 House Sponsor: Fred R. Hunsaker
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This joint resolution of the Legislature urges Utah's congressional delegation and
12 Governor Huntsman to work with the United States Congress for the passage of the
13 Children's Health Insurance Program to benefit Utah's children.
14 Highlighted Provisions:
15 This resolution:
16 . urges Utah's congressional delegation to work with the United States Congress for
17 the passage of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in a timely manner;
18 . urges Governor Huntsman to assist Utah's congressional delegation in this effort;
19 . urges all components of state government to work to ensure that all available public
20 and private assistance for providing health benefits to uninsured children in Utah is
21 used to the maximum extent possible; and
22 . urges the Governor to ensure that children who qualify for Medicaid or Utah's CHIP
23 are identified and enrolled.
24 Special Clauses:
25 None
26
27 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28 WHEREAS, the health of Utah's children is of paramount importance to Utah's
29 families;
30 WHEREAS, poor child health is a threat to the educational achievement, social, and
31 psychological well-being of Utah's children;
32 WHEREAS, protecting the health of our children is essential to the well-being of our
33 youngest citizens and the quality of life in our state;
34 WHEREAS, the Utah's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which has
35 enrolled 112,119 uninsured children since its inception in 1998, is an integral part of the
36 arrangements for health benefits for the children of Utah;
37 WHEREAS, Utah's CHIP is of great value in preserving child wellness, preventing and
38 treating childhood disease, improving health outcomes, and reducing overall health costs; and
39 WHEREAS, the federal funding available for Utah's CHIP is indispensable to providing
40 health benefits for children of modest means:
41 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
42 urges the state's congressional delegation to work with the United States Congress to
43 reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in a timely manner to ensure
44 federal funding for CHIP in Utah.
45 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the Governor to work with
46 Utah's congressional delegation to ensure that CHIP is reauthorized in a timely manner.
47 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges all components of state
48 government to work together with educators, health care providers, social workers, and parents
49 to ensure that all available public and private assistance for providing health benefits to
50 uninsured children in Utah be used to the maximum extent possible.
51 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the Governor to ensure that
52 children who qualify for Medicaid or Utah's CHIP are identified and enrolled.
53 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to Governor
54 Huntsman, the Utah Department of Health, the United States Department of Health and Human
55 Services, and to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.

Legislative Review Note
as of 1-24-07 6:12 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel