State Legislation

(STATES) Will Your State Have Its Own Default Battle?
   A new study by researchers at the Harvard Kennedy School offers suggestions to local organizations and agencies on how they can predict whether their state will be faced with a battle over the possible default of state bonds, similar to the debate that racked Washington last month.
posted 8/16/11 3:36 PM  read complete story

(RULES) Finds Out if Your State Plans to Promote Jobs in Eldercare
   State agencies administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program must include in their state plans information on whether the state intends to help individuals training for, seeking or maintaining employment in the field of eldercare
posted 3/17/11 4:18 PM  read complete story

(HEALTHCARE) NM, MT Pass Laws Impacting Autism, Medical Training Funding
   The Nat'l Conference of State Legislatures offers its yearly update on new state laws that will take effect on Jan. 1, including a few funding edicts that may be of interest to CHF readers. Highlights include: New Mexico will provide conditional tuition waivers for resident medical students who...
posted 12/31/09 3:01 PM  read complete story

(NUTRITION) MN Judge Rules Against Unilateral Budget Cut
   A district court judge rules Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) "crossed the line" when he unilaterally cut some $2.7 billion in state funds this past summer to balance the state's budget. The cuts were made because Pawlenty and the Democratic-controlled legislature failed to reach agreement over how...
posted 12/31/09 2:58 PM  read complete story

(DISABILITIES) MO Governor Pushing Autism Coverage Bill
   Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (R) and several Missouri legislators are touring the state to promote a state bill that would expand coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Under the bill, which has been pre-filed in both the Missouri House and Senate, insurance companies would not be able to limit t...
posted 12/10/09 3:04 PM  read complete story

(HEALTH INSURANCE) MA May Require Colleges to Cover Students
   The Massachusetts Legislature is now considering a bill that would require colleges and universities--public and private alike--to provide basic health insurance for all of their enrolled students, regardless of whether they are full- or part-time. If eventually passed into law, the plan would fine...
posted 12/7/09 2:06 PM  read complete story

(HEALTHCARE) CA Gov Vetoes Mental Health Bill; Signs Two Others
   California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signs two health bills, but vetoes three others--including a bill to expand mental health parity in the state. Schwarzenegger signs AB 119, prohibiting California health insurers from charging different premiums based on gender, and AB 108, preventing healt...
posted 10/21/09 12:59 PM  read complete story

(CHILDREN'S HEALTH) CA Boosts CHIP Funding
   California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signs a bill (AB 1422) to increase funding for the state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and maintain state-sponsored insurance for 700,000 children. The funding boost--$194 million annually for the state's Healthy Families Program --will be pr...
posted 10/1/09 2:08 PM  read complete story

(CHILDREN'S HEALTH) MT Expands Coverage for Children
   Montana: Effective today, the state combines its Medicaid children's program and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) into the Healthy Montana Kids Program. The new program will receive a $112 million increase in funding, with approximately 20% coming from state funds. The Montana Dept. of Pu...
posted 10/1/09 10:04 AM  read complete story

(HEALTH CARE) CA Bill to Prevent Insurance Cuts Moves Forward
   In a narrow bipartisan vote on Sept. 2, the California state Senate approves a taxation plan to prevent hundreds of thousands of children from losing the Healthy Families health insurance program. Three Republicans joined the Democratic majority to approve the bill to raise revenue for the children'...
posted 9/4/09 3:46 PM  read complete story