
(Phoenix, State Capitol) --- Senator Kate Brophy McGee is leading the way on major issues in education and health care as the Arizona Legislature approaches the halfway point of the 2020 session.
Senator Brophy McGee is sponsoring a key resolution to increase funding for education. SCR 1002 , the Penny for Ed proposal, would enhance the current .6 cent education sales tax to a full penny, to benefit K-12 teachers and classrooms, community colleges and state universities. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimates this would generate an estimated additional $580 million for education in its first year. SCR 1002 would need to go to voters for their approval.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, Senator Brophy McGee is always focused on major health concerns. She has introduced a bill to improve access to behavioral health services in schools for uninsured and underinsured children to receive behavioral health services at the school. SB 1523 has many provisions, including requiring commercial insurers to conform to the federal parity law, establishing a Suicide Fatality Review Team, and appropriating funding to provide a bridge to services for students in need of behavioral health care.
The Senator is also sponsoring SB 1024, which expands patient/consumer protections from surprise billings to include people insured through HMOs and the state health plan. It also allows self-insured plans to opt into the arbitration process.
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