SRC-VRA S.B. 1360 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1360 By: Lindsay, Janek Health & Human Services 4/2/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Texas' trauma and emergency services system is not adequately funded. It is estimated that the trauma system will need $300 million dollars per year to meet the increasing demands placed upon it or its ability to provide critical services may decrease. As proposed, S.B. 1360 allows one or more counties to form a trauma and emergency services district and, with voter approval, levy a tax on certain items to generate revenues for emergency services. 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 the Health and Safety Code by adding Chapter 780, as follows: CHAPTER 780. TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY SERVICES REVENUE DISTRICTS. Sec. 780.001. CREATION. Authorizes one or more counties, acting by order adopted by their respective commissioners courts, to create a trauma and emergency services revenue district under this chapter to provide for the support of a regional trauma and emergency services system. Sec. 780.101. GOVERNANCE. Requires the governing board (board) of the district to be composed of appointees made by the commissioners courts of the counties composing the district. Sec. 780.101. DISSOLUTION. Authorizes the board to make a petition to dissolve the district. Requires the petition to be approved by the voters of the counties composing the district. Sec. 780.201. REMOVAL FROM DISTRICT. Authorizes a county, by approval of the voters located in the county, to withdraw from the district. Sec. 780.301. POWERS AND DUTIES. Requires the board to be given generally established powers and duties to accomplish the mission of the district. Sec. 780.401. TAX AUTHORIZED. (a) Authorizes a district, with voter approval, to impose one or more of certain specified taxes. (b) Authorizes a district to impose a tax only if it has been approved by voters in the counties composing the district. Sec. 780.501. TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FUND. Requires the governing board to establish by resolution a fund known as the regional trauma and emergency services fund. Requires the board to deposit all proceeds from any tax the board, with voter approval, imposes. Sec. 780.601. DISTRIBUTION OF MONIES IN THE TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FUND. Requires the board, or its designee, to distribute monies in the trauma and emergency services fund for the purposes of supporting a regional trauma and emergency services system. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.