SRC-TBR H.B. 3244 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3244
By: Gallego (Sponsor Unknown)
Finance
5/11/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides the Texas Department of Health (TDH) with appropriated
funds from the interest proceeds of the emergency medical services and
trauma care tobacco endowment. Initially, interest deposits appropriated
for the program were made monthly.  However, this was changed to quarterly
deposits during the last fiscal year.  Consequently, some grant recipients
now wait up to three months for fund reimbursement which may present a
financial hardship. H.B. 3244 allows TDH to temporarily transfer certain
tobacco funds among tobacco-endowed programs. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

H.B. 3244 amends the Government Code to authorize the Texas Department of
Health (TDH) to direct the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) to
temporarily transfer money appropriated to TDH to pay an obligation that
TDH is authorized to incur under and for which money is appropriated under
the Community Hospital Capital Improvement Fund, the Permanent Fund for
Children and Public Health, the Permanent Fund for Emergency Medical
Services and Trauma Care, and the Permanent Fund for Tobacco Education and
Enforcement if TDH determines that the transfer is necessary for cash
management purposes. As soon as possible after the transfer, the bill
requires TDH to direct the comptroller to transfer back the transferred
amount from amounts appropriated under the Community Hospital Capital
Improvement Fund, the Permanent Fund for Children and Public Health, the
Permanent Fund for Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care to a specific
appropriation item.  

EFFECTIVE DATE:  On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary
vote, the Act takes effect the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.