SRC-VRA S.B. 528 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 528 78R5093 YDB-DBy: Madla Health & Human Services 2/26/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The Tobacco Endowment Fund provides the Texas Depart of Health's Bureau of Emergency Management (BEM) with approximately $3.8 million annually, depending on the interest earned. The Texas Department of Health (TDH) divides grant money between the state's 22 Regional Advisory Committees (RACs), which in turn distribute the grant money to qualifying EMS providers. Currently, TDH receives these allocated tobacco funds late in the budget cycle. This causes TDH to either pay grants late to the RACs or wait until the money is actually transferred. If TDH cannot allocate the money within the fiscal year, they lose those funds. As proposed, S.B. 528 permits RACs an additional year to spend these funds. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 773.122(c) and (d), Healthy and Safety Code, to authorize money that is not disbursed by a regional advisory council or a county to be eligible recipients for approved functions by the end of the fiscal year in which the funds were disbursed to be retained by the council or county to be used during the following fiscal year in accordance with this subsection. Requires money that is not disbursed by the council or county during the following fiscal year to be returned to the account. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003. Makes application of this Act prospective.