BWH H.B. 2805 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS COUNTY AFFAIRS H.B. 2805 By: Kamel 5-1-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Today in Texas there is not a clear and precise rule to determine what governmental agency has final authority to contract for the provision of ambulance service in a community. Presently, the authority rests with cities, counties, hospital districts, and fire districts. To bring a defined level of order and to reduce the potential of crossing jurisdictional authority, counties and incorporated cities should have the final authority to contract for providing ambulance service. PURPOSE HB 2805 removes the authority which a governing board of a hospital district has to approve an agreement made with the commissioners court to provide ambulance service in a hospital district. The bill also states that if the commissioners court has entered into an exclusive agreement with an agency, another agency may not provide emergency ambulance service in the county without the commissioner court's approval. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 774.003(b), Health and Safety Code by removing the authority which a governing board of a hospital district has to approve an agreement made with the commissioners court to provide ambulance service in a hospital district. Language is added which states that if the commissioners court has entered into an exclusive agreement with an agency or entity, another agency or entity may not provide emergency ambulance service in the county without the commissioners court's approval. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997 SECTION 3. Emergency clause