BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 3357

79R7712 HLT-F                                                                                                  By: Delisi (Nelson)

                                                                                                                  Health & Human Services

                                                                                                                                            5/18/2005

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law requires that when a hospital applies for or renews a license, it must provide certain information that may be required by the Texas Department of Health (which is now the Texas Department of State Health Services with the passage of H.B. 2292 by the 78th Legislature,  Regular Session, 2003).  This license information may then be requested by the public.  H.B. 3357 takes certain hospital license information currently required and specifies that it be available on the Internet for easier public access.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

[While the statutory reference in this bill is to the Texas Department of Health (TDH), the following amendments affect the Department of State Health Services, as the successor agency to TDH.]

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 241.022, Health and Safety Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f), as follows:

 

(b)  Requires the application [for a new or renewed hospital license] to contain the name and social security number of the sole proprietor, if the applicant is a sole proprietor; the name and social security number of each general partner who is an individual, if the applicant is a partnership; the name and social security number of any individual who has an ownership interest of more than 25 percent in the corporation, if the applicant is a corporation;  and any other information that the Texas Department of Health (department) may reasonably require.

           

(f)  Requires the department to post on its Internet website a list of all of the individuals named in applications as required by Subsections (b)(1)-(3).  Prohibits the department from posting on its Internet website a social security number of an individual required to be named in an application under Subsections (b)(1)-(3).

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 241.023(b), Health and Safety Code, as follows:

 

(b)  Authorizes a license to be renewed annually after payment of the required fee and submission of an application for license renewal that contains the information required by Section 241.022(b) (License Application).

 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective. 

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.