SRC-TJG S.B. 1625 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1625 By: Janek Health & Human Services 4/1/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, excess money in the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority account is not used for trauma funding. As proposed, S.B. 1625 redirects excess money in the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority account above obligations as of January 1, 2003, to the tertiary care account and distributed equally to level I trauma centers in the venue district, upon voter approval. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS ARTICLE 1. REFERENDUM AFFECTING CERTAIN SPORTS AND COMMUNITY VENUE DISTRICTS SECTION 1.01. APPLICABILITY. Provides that this article applies only to a venue district created under Chapter 335, Local Government Code, by one municipality that has a population of more than 1.9 million and one county that has a population of more than 3.3 million. SECTION 1.02. DEFINITIONS. Defines "board," "district," and "tertiary care account." SECTION 1.03. REFERENDUM. (a) Requires a sports and community district board (board) to order a district-wide referendum on the question of whether the commissioners court of the county that created the district shall exercise the powers and assume the duties of the district and whether any revenue of the district that exceeds the combined total of the amount necessary to discharge any obligations of the district issued before January 1, 2003, and the amount of $500,000 for actual and necessary expenses of the presiding officer and members of the board is required to be deposited in the tertiary care account to be divided equally among level I trauma centers in the county that created the district. (b) Requires the ballot to be printed to permit voting for or against a certain proposition. (c) Requires certain actions to be taken if a majority of the votes cast in a referendum ordered under Subsection (a) of this section approve the transfer of powers and duties and the allocation of revenue as described by Subsection (a) of this section, notwithstanding Chapter 335, Local Government Code (Sports and Community Venue Districts). (d) Requires a commissioners court exercising the powers of a district, at the end of each fiscal year, to determine the amount of revenue required to be deposited in the tertiary care account under Subsection (c)(3) of this section and to make the required allocation. (e) Requires a referendum ordered under Subsection (a) of this section to be held on the next uniform election date authorized by Section 41.001(a), Election Code (Uniform Election Dates), that occurs after the effective date of this article and that is at least 20 days after the date of the order calling referendum. ARTICLE 2. POWERS AND DUTIES AND ALLOCATION OF REVENUE OF CERTAIN SPORTS AND COMMUNITY VENUE DISTRICTS SECTION 2.01. AMENDMENT. Amends Chapter 335E, Local Government Code, by adding Section 335.076, as follows: Sec. 335.076. REFERENDUM. Requires the powers and duties of the district to be transferred and requires the revenue of the district to be allocated in the manner provided by the referendum, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if a referendum on the issue of the transfer of powers and duties and the allocation of revenue of a district is mandated by the legislature and is approved by a majority of the votes cast. SECTION 2.02. AMENDMENT. Amends Section 46.003, Health and Safety Code, by amending Sections (a) and (f) and adding Subsection (g), as follows: (a) Authorizes money in the account to be appropriated only to the Texas Department of Health for purposes of this chapter, except as provided by Subsections (e) and (g). (f) Makes conforming changes. (g) Requires any revenue of a venue district created under Chapter 335, Local Government Code, by one municipality that has a population of more than 1.9 million and one county that has a population of more than 3.3 million that is deposited in the account to be distributed equally among level I trauma centers in the county that adopted the order creating the venue district. ARTICLE 3. EFFECTIVE DATE SECTION 3.01. EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.