78R12622 MCK-D


By:  Raymond                                                      H.B. No. 3497

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3497:                                   

By:  McReynolds                                               C.S.H.B. No. 3497



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to funding and extending the expiration date of the 
regional emergency medical dispatch resource center pilot program.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 771.105, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 771.105.  FUNDING OF PILOT PROGRAM.  (a) Money in the 
9-1-1 services fee fund may be appropriated to the Texas Department 
of Health to fund the pilot program.
	(b)  The department is also authorized to seek grant funding 
for the pilot program.
	(c)  A political subdivision that participates in the pilot 
program may pay an appropriate share of the cost of the pilot 
program.
	(d)  The provisions in this subchapter that require the 
department to establish, conduct, and evaluate the pilot program 
are contingent on the department receiving funding in accordance 
with this section.  If a sufficient number of political 
subdivisions in a region that could be served by a pilot program 
offer to pay the Texas Department of Health an amount that in the 
aggregate, together with any other funding received under this 
section, is sufficient to fund the pilot program for the region, the 
department:
		(1)  shall enter into contracts with the offering 
political subdivisions under which each will pay an appropriate 
share of the cost; and
		(2)  when the amount under the signed contracts, 
together with any other funding received under this section, is 
sufficient to fund the pilot program for the region, shall 
implement the pilot program for the region.
	SECTION 2.  Section 771.106, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 771.106.  REPORT TO LEGISLATURE.  The department shall 
report its findings to the presiding officer of each house of the 
legislature no later than January 1, 2005 [December 1, 2002].
	SECTION 3.  Subchapter E, Chapter 771, Health and Safety 
Code, is amended by adding Section 771.1071 to read as follows:
	Sec. 771.1071.  WORK GROUP.  (a)  The presiding officer of 
the advisory council shall appoint a work group to assist the Texas 
Department of Health in developing, implementing, and evaluating 
the pilot program and preparing a report on the department's 
findings.
	(b)  A member of the work group receives no additional 
compensation for serving on the work group and may not be reimbursed 
for travel or other expenses incurred while conducting the business 
of the work group.
	(c)  The work group is not subject to Chapter 2110, 
Government Code.  
	SECTION 4.  Section 771.108, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 771.108.  EXPIRATION.  This subchapter expires 
September 1, 2005 [2003].
	SECTION 5.  The Texas Department of Health shall implement 
the pilot program established by Subchapter E, Chapter 771, Health 
and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, not later than July 1, 
2004.
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.