SRC-JFA S.B. 788 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 788 By: Ellis Health & Human Services 3-6-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, under the Health and Safety Code, nonprofit hospitals and hospital systems are required to file an annual report of the community benefits plan with the Department of Health (department) by 120 days after the end of the hospital's or hospital system's fiscal year. Hospitals in Texas are not required to adhere to a certain fiscal reporting period. Based on 1995 information, nonprofit hospitals used 10 different fiscal years as a basis for the reports. The administration of this law is a continuous process requiring the department to issue notification to hospitals, monitoring compliance with reporting deadlines, and maintaining information on changes in hospital fiscal years. This bill would change the deadline for such reports to April 30th of each year. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 788 amends the due date to April 30th of each year for the filing of annual reports of community benefits plans by a nonprofit hospital to the Department of Health. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 311.046(b), Health and Safety Code, to require a nonprofit hospital to file the annual report of the community benefits plan with the Department of Health no later than April 30 of each year, rather than 120 days after the end of a nonprofit hospital's fiscal year. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. Makes application of this Act prospective to January 1, 1998. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.