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.