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