| TO: | Honorable Jaime Capelo, Chair, House Committee on Public Health |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1877 by Hardcastle (Relating to creating the rural physician relief program.), As Introduced |
The bill would establish a Rural Physician Relief Program under the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) and would pay physicians providing relief in rural areas using collected fees. ORCA would charge a fee for physicians participating in the program and deposit the proceeds in the newly created GR Account-Rural Physician Relief. The new account, which would consist of fee receipts as well as gifts, grants, donations, and contributions, could be appropriated only for program expenses.
It is assumed ORCA could perform the duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill by utilizing existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2003.
The bill would create a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund. Legislative policy, implemented as Government Code 403.094, consolidated special funds (except those affected by constitutional, federal, or other restrictions) into the General Revenue Fund as of August 31, 1993 and eliminated all applicable statutory revenue dedications as of August 31, 1995. Each subsequent Legislature has reviewed bills that affect funds consolidation. The account dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
| Source Agencies: | 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 357 Office of Rural Community Affairs
|
| LBB Staff: | JK, EB, RT, DE, KG
|