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79R6178 YDB-D

By:  Guillen                                                      H.B. No. 2610



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to rural emergency air trauma safety service regions.                
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by adding Chapter 781 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 781.  RURAL EMERGENCY AIR TRAUMA SAFETY SERVICE REGIONS

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
	Sec. 781.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                            
		(1)  "Air trauma safety service region" means an area 
of this state designated by the executive commissioner as a rural 
emergency air trauma safety service region in accordance with this 
chapter.
		(2)  "Department" means the Department of State Health 
Services.     
		(3)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive 
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.

[Sections 781.002-781.050 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER B.  ADMINISTRATION
	Sec. 781.051.  ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONS.  (a)  The executive 
commissioner shall establish rural emergency air trauma safety 
service regions in this state sufficient to provide service to the 
entire state.
	(b)  The executive commissioner shall establish the 
boundaries of air trauma safety service regions based on the 
location of high level trauma centers and the time required for a 
helicopter trauma service unit to travel from a location in the 
region to a trauma center.
	Sec. 781.052.  REGION HEADQUARTERS.  The executive 
commissioner shall designate a location in a municipality or county 
to serve as the headquarters for each air trauma safety service 
region.  In designating the headquarters for each region, the 
executive commissioner shall consider the aircraft hangars, office 
space, equipment, and other items a municipality or county is 
willing to donate to support the operation of the air trauma safety 
service region.
	Sec. 781.053.  RULES.  The executive commissioner may adopt 
rules necessary to administer this chapter.
	Sec. 781.054.  DEPARTMENT DUTIES.  In addition to any item 
provided by a municipality or county under Section 781.052, the 
department shall provide personnel, equipment, and other supplies 
necessary for the operation of the air trauma safety service region 
headquarters.
	Sec. 781.055.  REGULATION.  The executive commissioner and 
the department shall regulate the operation of the air trauma 
safety service regions and determine the qualifications required 
for the personnel employed by the regions.

[Sections 781.056-781.100 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER C.  FUNDING
	Sec. 781.101.  AIR TRAUMA SAFETY SERVICE REGIONS ACCOUNT. 
The air trauma safety service regions account is an account in the 
general revenue fund.  The account consists of money collected 
under Section 502.1706, Transportation Code.  The money in the 
account may be used only for the purposes of this chapter.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 502.1706 to read as follow:
	Sec. 502.1706.  ADDITIONAL FEE FOR AIR TRAUMA SAFETY 
SERVICE.  (a)  In addition to other fees imposed for registration of 
a motor vehicle, the applicant shall pay a fee of $10, which must be 
collected when other registration fees are collected.
	(b)  Fees collected under this section must be remitted to 
the comptroller and deposited to the credit of the air trauma safety 
service regions account in the general revenue fund.
	SECTION 3.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective 
date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human 
Services Commission shall:
		(1)  establish rural emergency air trauma safety 
service regions as required by Chapter 781, Health and Safety Code, 
as added by this Act; and
		(2)  adopt rules necessary to implement Chapter 781, 
Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
	(b)  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this 
Act, the Department of State Health Services shall determine the 
qualifications for personnel employed by a rural emergency air 
trauma safety service region under Chapter 781, Health and Safety 
Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.