Twelve lawmakers have been appointed to the committee that will monitor a nonprofit board created to decide whether Arkansas should take over responsibility for operating its health-insurance exchange.

Sen. David Sanders of Little Rock and Rep. Jeremy Gillam of Judsonia, both Republicans, have been named the committee’s chairmen.

The other senators are Republicans Ronald Caldwell of Wynne, Jonathan Dismang of Beebe and Jason Rapert of Conway, and Democrats Paul Bookout of Jonesboro and Linda Chesterfield of Little Rock.

The other House members are Republicans John Burris of Harrison and Sue Scott of Rogers, and Democrats Eddie Armstrong of North Little Rock, Deborah Ferguson of West Memphis and Jeffrey Wardlaw of Warren.

The senators were appointed by Senate PresidentPro Tem Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville, and House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot.

The nonprofit board, created by Act 1500 of 2013, will decide whether Arkansas should establish its own health-insurance exchange, beginning in 2015, to replace the one being set up by the federal government under a partnership with the state.

The exchange will allow low- and moderate-income people to enroll in subsidized health-insurance plans beginning Oct. 1 for coverage that will start in January 2014.

The legislative committee will monitor the nonprofit’s operations, programs and finances. It will meet quarterly upon the joint call of the co-chairmen and will submit an annual report to the Legislature by Dec. 15.

Arkansas, Pages 8 on 08/13/2013