Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt an amendment to SB 8 that requires Texas to join an Interstate Health Care Compact.

Highlights:

• Requires the state of Texas to enter into an Interstate Health Care Compact (Sec. 1).

• Requires member states of the Interstate Health Care Compact to take joint and separate action to secure the consent of Congress to retain state authority over the regulation of health care (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the legislatures of the member states to regulate health care in their respective states (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes each member state to suspend, through legislation, the operation of all federal laws, rules, regulations, and orders regarding health care that are inconsistent with the Interstate Health Care Compact (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that all member states in the Interstate Health Care Compact retain their right to federal health care funding (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the Interstate Health Care Compact shall be effective upon its adoption by at least 2 states and its approval by Congress (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes member states to amend the Interstate Health Care Compact by unanimous agreement without prior congressional approval, and that any amendment is effective unless Congress disapproves of that amendment within 1 year (Sec. 1).

• This act is effective upon an affirmative two-thirds vote in both houses of the state legislature, or on September 1, 2011 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text