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.