BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 770
S/C on Emerging Technologies & Economic Development
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Texas Enterprise Zone Program was created to promote job creation and capital investment in economically distressed areas. The program provides communities with an economic development tool to offer state and local incentives and program priority to new or expanding business in these designated areas.
There has been a steady increase in the number and percentage of Texas' population without health insurance. The cost of providing health services to this uninsured population is carried by the state government through the Medicaid and CHIP programs, local county taxpayers; and private businesses that help finance health insurance for their employees and their employees' families.
Many businesses have find health insurance too expensive to purchase. At the state level, more may be done to encourage businesses and their employees to acquire health insurance.
S.B. 770 requires a private business receiving a grant of money from the Texas Enterprise Fund to provide health insurance to the grant recipient's employees.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 481.078, Government Code, to prohibit a grant of money from the Texas Enterprise Fund from being given to a recipient who has not committed to providing a health benefit plan to the recipient's employees.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.