AB 531

On March 23, 2010, the federal government enacted the Patient Protection and

Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which, among other things, imposes requirements and

limitations on health insurance policies and health plans, requires the creation of

state-based health insurance exchanges through which individuals and small

employers can purchase insurance, changes the income eligibility criteria for

Medicaid (known as Medical Assistance in this state), and creates incentives for

improving access to health care. This bill requires that, before a state agency takes

any action to implement PPACA for which the agency would typically promulgate a

rule, the agency must request the Legislative Reference Bureau to prepare

legislation that allows the agency to take the action. The agency must then submit

the proposed legislation to each standing committee of each house of the legislature

that has jurisdiction over health or insurance matters. The bill prohibits the agency

from taking the action to implement PPACA until the legislation allowing the agency

to take the action takes effect. The bill also prohibits an agency from requesting a

grant or other moneys from the federal government to implement PPACA and from

expending any state moneys, or federal moneys passing through the state treasury,

to assist the federal government in implementing PPACA.