HB126 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew SorrellAuditor

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Certificate of Need program for health care facilities, eliminated, to abolish the Certificate of Need Board, and to update related code sections to remove references both to the program and to the powers and responsibilities at the Certificate of Need Review Board, Secs. 22-12A-3, 22-21-336, 22-21-341 am'd; Secs. 22-4-1 to 22-4-17, inclusive, 22-4-30 to 22-4-42, inclusive, 22-21-260 to 22-21-278, inclusive repealed

Summary

HB 126 would eliminate Alabama's certificate of need program and abolish the agencies and boards that run it.

What This Bill Does

It repeals the certificate of need program for health care services and facilities. It abolishes the CON Review Board and the state agencies that operate the program, and removes related funding and data collection functions. It repeals related chapters and updates the code to remove references to the program and those authorities. It also directs that any remaining funds for these entities revert to the State General Fund, and it becomes effective October 1, 2020.

Who It Affects

• Health care facilities, hospitals, clinics, and other health care providers would no longer be required to obtain a certificate of need before constructing, expanding, or starting new services.
• Public hospital corporations and other public health entities would lose the CON regulatory framework and related assets or rights tied to CON; those functions would be removed.
• State and local government entities (governments and public agencies) would have CON-related powers removed and funds/assets reverted to the General Fund.
• The general public would be affected by the removal of CON oversight of health care facility development and service expansion.

Key Provisions

• Repeal the certificate of need program for health care services and facilities and abolish the CON Review Board and the associated state agencies (State Health Planning and Development Agency, Statewide Health Coordinating Council, Health Care Information and Data Advisory Council).
• Abolish Article 1 (Sections 22-4-1 onward), Article 2 (Section 22-4-30 onward) of Chapter 4, Title 22, and Article 9 (Section 22-21-260 onward) of Chapter 21, all codes relating to the CON program.
• Update related code sections to remove references to the CON program and the authority, responsibilities, and powers of the CON Review Board and the related agencies.
• Provide that funds held for the operation of these entities revert to the State General Fund.
• Effective date: October 1, 2020.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health Care Facilities