Florida Health Care Freedom Act Passes House and Senate
Mississippi Measure Poised for 2011 Ballot
April 22, 2010
Washington, D.C.— Today, Florida's Health Care Freedom Act (HJR 37/SJR 72), sponsored by Florida Representative Scott Plakon and Florida Senator Carey Baker, passed the House and Senate and will appear on the November ballot. And yesterday, Mississippi Representatives Alex Monsour and Steven Palazzo received preliminary approval to place the Health Care Freedom Act on the 2011 or 2012 ballot. The legislation—which blocks a state or federal requirement for individuals to purchase health insurance—is modeled after the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act now introduced or announced in 42 states.
“Protecting the individual freedom for people to make their own health care decisions is a priority in the states,” said ALEC health task force director Christie Herrera, who is coordinating the nationwide effort. “The amount of support from state legislators and policy makers for this legislation has been tremendous,” she added.
ALEC’s Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act has already been enacted statutorily by the Virginia, Idaho, and Arizona legislatures, and constitutional amendments in Oklahoma, Arizona, and Florida will appear before voters on the November ballot.
Statutory measures have also passed one chamber each in Georgia and Tennessee, and will soon reach Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry's desk.
Constitutional amendments have passed one chamber in the Missouri legislature, and will soon be considered by the Louisiana House.
http://www.alec.org/...
For example, in Washing State, HB 1946:
AN ACT Relating to adopting the Washington state health care freedom act of 2011; and adding new sections to chapter 48.44 RCW.... A law or rule pertaining to health care shall not directly or indirectly compel any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system....
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/...
This bill was introduced by Reps Matt Shea LD 4, Cary Condotta LD 12, David Taylor LD 15, Brad Klippert LD 8, Dan Kristiansen LD 39, Jim McCune LD 2, Susan Fagan LD 9, Judy Warnick LD 13, Joe Schmick LD 9, Jan Angel LD 26, Jason Overstreet LD 42, Barbara Bailey LD 10, Kevin Parker LD 6.
Shea, Angel, Bailey, Parker, Schmick are members of ALEC.
HB 1946 did not secure passage.