LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
May 3, 2001
TO: Honorable Mike Moncrief, Chair, Senate Committee on
Health & Human Services
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB2446 by Glaze (Relating to emergency medical
services.), As Engrossed
**************************************************************************
* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB2446, As Engrossed: negative impact of $(427,972) through the *
* biennium ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
**************************************************************************
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $(176,907) *
* 2003 (251,065) *
* 2004 (251,065) *
* 2005 (251,065) *
* 2006 (251,065) *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
**************************************************************************
*Fiscal Probable Probable Change in Number of *
* Year Savings/(Cost) from Savings/(Cost) from State Employees from *
* General Revenue Fund Advisory Commission FY 2001 *
* 0001 on Emergency *
* Communications *
* Account/ *
* GR-Dedicated *
* 5007 *
* 2002 $(176,907) $(99,618) 1.3 *
* 2003 (251,065) (90,552) 2.0 *
* 2004 (251,065) 0 2.0 *
* 2005 (251,065) 0 2.0 *
* 2006 (251,065) 0 2.0 *
**************************************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
At the request of a governmental entity or non-governmental organization
sponsoring or wanting to sponsor an emergency medical service provider or
first responder organization in a rural or underserved area, the bill
would require the Bureau of Emergency Management, the Department of
Health (TDH) to provide or facilitate the initial training for emergency
care attendants, if the training is not available locally. The bill would
also require the bureau ensure the training is provided, provide
training without charge, or contract with qualified instructors to
provide the training without charge, provide training at times an places
that are convenient to the students, and require at least three students
are scheduled to take any class offered. The bill would require the
students taking the training to agree to perform emergency care attendant
services for at least one year with a local emergency medical services
provider or fire responder organization. TDH would also be required to
consult with and solicit comments from entities providing or interested
in emergency medical services and training programs.
The bill, as engrossed, would require the TDH to establish a pilot
program to evaluate providing pre-arrival emergency medical instructions
to lay public 911 callers in underserved areas and public safety
answering points are not adequately staffed to provide emergency medical
dispatch services. The bill would require TDH to submit a report of the
agency's findings to the Legislature by December 1, 2002. The bill
would allow funds from the 9-1-1 services fee fund to be appropriated to
TDH for the purpose of funding the pilot program. The pilot would
expire September 1, 2003.
Methodology
TDH assumes a four month implementation period. According to TDH, two
additional FTEs would be needed. In FY 2002, TDH estimates costs
associated with the bill would include: $46,653 for salary and benefits
for the additional FTEs; $1,988 for travel expenses; $2,766 for operating
expenses; and $115,500 for contracts with instructors providing
emergency care attendant training. TDH estimates a one time cost of
$10,000 for equipment used in the training program.
In FYs 2003-06, TDH estimates costs associated with the bill would
include: $69,979 for salary and benefits for the additional FTEs; $2,936
for travel expenses; $3,150 for operating expenses; and $175,000 for
contracts with instructors providing emergency care attendant training.
TDH assumes a four month start-up period to implement the emergency
medical dispatch resource center pilot program. TDH estimates costs
associated with the pilot program would total $97,928 in FY 2002, and
$88,392 in FY 2003 for contract expenses. These costs would include
contracts with an existing entity to act as the pilot state emergency
medical dispatch resource center, estimated at per call rates (50 calls/
month @ $114 per call), equipment, and service and lease expenses. TDH
estimates other pilot program costs, including travel, telephone and
postage, and printing, would total $1,690 in FY 2002 and $2,160 in FY
2003.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 501 Texas Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK, HD, RM