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.