SRC-DBM S.B. 1138 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1138 76R8042 DLF-FBy: Wentworth Human Services 3/22/1999 As Filed DIGEST The 75th Legislature added a provision to the Texas Health and Safety Code providing that a county with a joint county-city hospital can receive state indigent care funds if the county spends at least 10 percent of the county's general revenue tax levy to provide mandatory care services to residents who qualify for assistance under Section 61.006, Health and Safety Code, for example, under state established eligibility standards. Guadalupe and Medina counties were affected by this provision; Guadalupe County is still ineligible to receive assistance from the Indigent Health Care Fund because the county allows a higher income for ineligible residents than does the state. S.B. 1138 would provide state assistance to certain counties that provide mandatory health care services, if the Department of Health determines a county is eligible for assistance. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1138 provides state assistance to certain counties that provide mandatory health care services in certain counties. 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 61.037(e), Health and Safety Code, to provide that a county that provides mandatory health care services to certain eligible residents is eligible for state assistance if a county spends, in a state fiscal year, at least 10 percent of the county general revenue levy for the year to provide mandatory health care services to its eligible county residents who qualify for assistance under Section 61.052, rather than Section 61.006. SECTION 2. Amends Section 61.038(a), Health and Safety Code, to require the Department of Health (department) to distribute funds appropriated to the department from certain funds to assist a county in providing mandatory health care services to its eligible county residents who qualify for assistance as described by Section 61.037, if the department determines that a county is eligible for assistance. SECTION 3.Makes application of this Act prospective to January 1, 2000. Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.