BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 523
79R9286 UM-F By: Deuell
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The 78th Texas Legislature, 2003, approved a pilot program to test the efficacy of using emergency medical dispatchers located in a regional dispatch resource center to provide pre-arrival instructions to 911 callers in certain parts of rural Texas. Funding was appropriated last session but the pilot program has not yet been instituted. C.S.S.B. 523 reintroduces the pilot program, extends its expiration date, and updates references made to the Texas Department of Health.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 771, Health and Safety Code, as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. New heading: EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH RESOURCE CENTERS
Sec. 771.101. New heading: DEFINITION. Defines "center."
Sec. 771.102. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. Redesignated from existing Section 771.101. Requires the area health education center at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (center), rather than the Texas Department of Health (TDH), to establish a regional emergency medical dispatch resource center pilot program. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
Sec. 771.103. PARTICIPATION IN PILOT PROGRAM. Redesignated from existing Section 771.102. Deletes existing text requiring TDH to establish selection criteria. Makes conforming changes.
Sec. 771.104. New heading: SELECTION OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND REGIONAL MEDICAL DISPATCH CENTERS. Redesignated from existing Section 771.103. (a) Authorizes the center, with the assistance of the advisory council, to select public safety answering points to participate in the pilot program or to serve as regional emergency medical dispatch resource centers. Authorizes a public safety answering point to participate in the pilot program and serve as a regional emergency medical dispatch resource center. Sets forth requirements for a public safety answering point selected for the pilot program or to serve as a resource center. Makes conforming changes.
(b) Requires the center to share information regarding a public safety answering point's abilities with the advisory council. Makes conforming changes.
Sec. 771.105. CRITERIA FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH INTERVENTION. Redesignated from existing Section 771.104. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
Sec. 771.106. FUNDING OF PILOT PROGRAM. Redisignated from existing Section 771.105. Makes conforming changes.
Sec. 771.107. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Redesignated from existing Section 771.106. Requires the center to biennially report its findings to the governor, the presiding officer of each house of the legislature, and the advisory council not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year through 2009, rather than no later than January 1, 2005.
Sec. 771.108. LIABILITY. Redesignated from existing Section 771.107.
Sec. 771.109. WORK GROUP. Redesignated from existing Section 771.1071. Specifies the center's authorization to appoint a pilot program work group. Makes conforming changes.
Sec. 771.110. EXPIRATION. Redesignated from existing Section 771.108. Provides that this subchapter expires September 1, 2009, rather than 2005.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.