SB258 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Bryan TaylorClay ScofieldPhillip W. WilliamsBill HoltzclawDick BrewbakerShadrack McGillGreg J. ReedScott BeasonArthur OrrRusty GloverTrip PittmanDel MarshJ.T. WaggonerGerald H. AllenTom Whatley

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Health Care Compact established, consent of U. S. Congress secured for return of authority to member states to regulate health care, Interstate Advisory Health Care Commission established, membership, duties, terms, funding

Summary

SB258 creates a Health Care Compact to shift regulatory authority over health care back to member states, with a new Interstate Advisory Health Care Commission and mandatory federal funding to support state authority, pending Congressional consent.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Health Care Compact and seeks consent from Congress to return health care regulation to the member states. It creates the Interstate Advisory Health Care Commission to study issues and issue non-binding recommendations, with up to two appointees per state. States could suspend federal health care laws that conflict with their compact-based regulations, and would handle any funding implications for remaining federal requirements. It guarantees federal funding to states to support exercising the new authority, with funding levels calculated and reconciled by Congress and the GAO.

Who It Affects

• Member States (e.g., Alabama) and their state governments: gain primary authority to regulate health care within their borders, participate in the Commission, determine funding levels, and potentially suspend conflicting federal laws under the Compact.
• The federal government (Congress and federal agencies) and residents of member states: Congress must consent to the Compact for it to take effect; federal funding is provided to states to support the new authority; residents may experience changes in health care regulation as federal rules could be altered or suspended at the state level.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Health Care Compact and requires consent of the United States Congress to return health care regulation to member states.
• Creates the Interstate Advisory Health Care Commission; each member state may appoint up to two members; decisions require a majority vote; commission may issue non-binding recommendations and collect health care data with privacy protections.
• Authorizes member states to suspend federal health care laws, rules, and orders that conflict with laws adopted under the Compact; states assume funding obligations for any remaining federal requirements.
• Provides funding to member states for exercising authority under the Compact; funding is mandatory, up to the state’s current year funding level, and is reconciled by Congress and audited by the GAO.
• Defines funding formulas (base funding level, population adjustment, inflation adjustment) tied to 2010 federal health care spending and other economic factors.
• Requires Congressional consent for the Compact to take effect; amendments require unanimous state agreement and are effective unless Congress disapproves within one year.
• Outlines withdrawal and dissolution rules; a state may withdraw with six months’ notice, and the Compact dissolves if all but one state withdraw.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health