Texas 2011 - 82nd 1st C.S.

Texas Senate Bill SB5

Voted on by Senate
 
Out of House Committee
 
Voted on by House
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to the Interstate Health Care Compact.

Impact

The implementation of SB5 could significantly reshape the landscape of healthcare regulation in the member states. By enabling states to bypass federal dictates, the compact aims to alleviate the fiscal strains imposed by unfunded federal mandates. States entering into this agreement would coordinate to secure federal funding equivalent to their current healthcare spending levels while gaining the power to govern healthcare independently. This could lead to various state-specific healthcare policies that reflect local needs and perspectives, potentially improving healthcare access and delivery in some areas.

Summary

SB5 establishes the Interstate Health Care Compact, aiming to return the authority to regulate healthcare to individual states. This bill allows member states to suspend federal healthcare regulations that conflict with those enacted at the state level. It outlines the operational framework for the compact, including funding mechanisms and the establishment of an Interstate Advisory Health Care Commission, which will assist member states in their healthcare regulation efforts. This legislative effort is framed as a means of enhancing state sovereignty and local control over healthcare policy.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB5 appears to be mixed. Proponents, primarily from conservative factions, view the bill as a reclaiming of state rights and an opportunity to foster more responsive and efficient healthcare systems tailored to local needs. On the other hand, critics argue that such measures may undermine the integration and equity that federal regulations are designed to ensure across states. Concerns have been raised about possible disparities in healthcare access and quality that could arise from uneven state regulations.

Contention

Key points of contention regarding SB5 include the potential for conflicts between state and federal laws, particularly in the realm of healthcare standards and funding. Opposition groups warn that allowing states to opt out of federal regulations could result in a fragmented healthcare system where some states may not provide adequate care or coverage. Additionally, there are concerns about the adequacy of oversight and regulation that the Interstate Advisory Health Care Commission can offer, given its non-binding recommendations. The complexities of funding responsibilities also remain under scrutiny, as states may struggle to manage funding obligations without a solidified federal backing.

Companion Bills

TX HB5

Similar Relating to the Interstate Health Care Compact.

Similar Bills

NJ AR154

Urges Congress to provide for joint session at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in honor of semiquincentennial of Declaration of Independence.

TX SJR1

Urging the Congress of the United States to propose and submit to the states for ratification a federal balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States and, in the event that Congress does not submit such an amendment on or before December 31, 2011, applying to Congress to call a convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to that constitution to provide, in the absence of a national emergency and on a two-thirds vote of Congress, for a federal balanced budget and requesting that the legislatures of each of the several states that compose the United States apply to Congress to call a convention to propose such an amendment.

US HB209

Inaction Has Consequences Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not passed each of the annual appropriations bills before the beginning of the fiscal year, beginning with FY2026. Salaries are released on the earlier of (1) the date on which the chamber of Congress passes the bills, or (2) the last day of the Congress.

US HB157

Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act or the CLEAN Congress Act This bill (1) requires bills, orders, resolutions, or votes submitted by Congress to the President to include only one subject that is clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title; and (2) makes ineffective any provision of law that excludes its application to a Member of Congress or to an employee in a Member's office.

NJ AJR97

Urges U.S. Congress to pass Equal Rights Amendment.

US SCR5

This concurrent resolution states that, unless it is approved by Congress, the proposed joint interpretation of Annex 14-C of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) prepared by Ambassador Katherine Tai (1) is of no legal effect with respect to the United States or any U.S. person, and (2) cannot be invoked by any federal agency in any legal proceeding nor may a federal agency assert that it has any legal consequences for claims made by a U.S. person. (Annex 14-C of the USMCA concerns certain investment claims under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the agreement which preceded USMCA.)

US HB1973

No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act

NJ AJR146

Urges Congress enact legislation granting statehood to Washington, D.C.