LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session April 11, 1995 TO: Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair IN RE: Senate BillNo. 1431 Committee on Health & Human Services By: Zaffirini Senate Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No. 1431 (Relating to the provision and funding of emergency medical services.) this office has determined the following: The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill would add an article to Chapter 102, Code of Criminal Procedure, requiring defendants convicted of certain types of traffic offenses to pay certain amounts as costs of court. These amounts would be deposited into county treasuries, to be used only for the maintenance and support of emergency medical services provided in the county. The Department of Health estimates the collection of approximately $19.7 million per year by units of local government in association with cost of court provisions. The bill would require the Department of Health to establish a statewide emergency medical services force. The Department of Health, through this force, would be required to provide support and assistance to local governments providing emergency medical services. The Board of Health would receive the authority under this bill to adopt rules to implement the program. The bill requires that the force would be a volunteer force, providing assistance to local governments that already provide emergency medical services. However, the Department of Health states that: 1) support and assistance would require a combination of paid and volunteer personnel; 2) the personnel would be providing "support and assistance needed to either develop or revitalize a local emergency medical service and bring it on-line;" and 3) in fiscal year 1996, four fully-equipped ambulance units staffed with four emergency medical services technicians for each vehicle would be needed, with the number of units to grow over time, reaching ten in the year 2000. Costs estimates below reflect premises noted above as well as the assumption that local governments would provide office space, and some operating costs and administrative and support functions for staff deployed in the area. Should the implementation of the provisions of the bill related to the Statewide Emergency Medical Services Force be limited to a force composed of volunteers, it is probable that the fiscal implications would be significantly reduced. The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage is estimated as follows: Fiscal Probable Cost Out Change in Year of General Number of State Revenue Fund 001 Employees from FY 1995 1996 $2,028,811 16.0 1997 1,952,385 20.0 1998 2,828,160 28.0 1999 3,106,611 32.0 2000 4,001,789 40.0 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. Source: Department of Health LBB Staff: JK, KF, DF