SENATE BILL NO. 1203

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health

on ________________)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Head)

A BILL to direct the State Health Services Plan Task Force to develop recommendations for establishing an expedited application and review process for certain projects for which a certificate of public need is required.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That the State Health Commissioner shall direct the State Health Services Plan Task Force (the Task Force) to develop recommendations, including project eligibility criteria, for establishing an expedited application and review process for projects for which a certificate of public need is required that are located in an area that meets at least two of the following criteria: (i) does not have a hospital or health care provider (a) within a 30-mile radius where the population density is estimated to be less than 1,500 residents per square mile or (b) does not have a hospital or health care provider within a 15-mile radius where the population density is estimated to be more than 1,500 residents per square mile; (ii) has less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents; or (iii) has an annual poverty rate of at least 20 percent, according to the latest data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.