A bill that would have required hospital operators to undergo criminal background checks to protect hospitals from corruption died this week in the Texas calendar committee, what The Dallas Morning News calls "a common behind-the-scenes killing ground for bills."
In addition to background checks, the legislation would have enhanced the frequency of safety inspections at hospitals and given state regulators authority to take over badly managed hospitals on the brink of closure, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Sen. Charles Schwertner, R, introduced the bipartisan bill in December after a Dallas Morning News investigation revealed gaps in regulations that enabled hospital operators and administrators to prioritize their personal financial interests over the hospitals' best interests.
The bill met its demise days before the end of the current legislative session, following full approval from the Senate in March and preliminary approval from the House.
Mr. Schwertner said he was puzzled by the decision to kill the bill given that it had the hospital industry's support, and described the calendar committee's process as "opaque." "I don't know who stopped the bill, who killed the bill," he said, according to the report. "It was an important piece of legislation.''
The Dallas Morning News could not reach Rep. Todd Hunter, chairman of the calendar committee, for a comment.
Mr. Schwertner said he plans to reintroduce the measure in the next legislative session.