BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 1412

80R4553 ABC-F                                                                           By: McReynolds, Darby (Deuell)

                                                                                                                  Health & Human Services

                                                                                                                                              5/9/2007

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, approved and funded an Emergency Medical Dispatch pilot program to use emergency medical dispatchers located in regional dispatch centers to provide pre-arrival medical advice to 9-1-1 callers in rural Texas.  This type of assistance has been vital in providing for positive outcomes for those in emergency situations where help might be a considerable time or distance away.  Due to the success of the pilot program, it may prove beneficial to allow expansion of the program to other areas of the state.

 

H.B. 1412 establishes a statewide program to use emergency medical dispatchers located in regional emergency medical dispatch resource centers to provide life-saving or other emergency medical instruction to persons awaiting the arrival of emergency medical personnel. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

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

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 771.102, Health and Safety Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 771.102.  New heading: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH RESOURCE CENTERS PROGRAM.  (a)  Requires the area health education center at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston that meets certain federal requirements (center), with certain assistance, to establish a program to use emergency medical dispatchers located in regional emergency medical dispatch resource centers, rather than establishing a pilot program to test the efficacy of using said dispatchers located in a regional emergency medical dispatch resource center. 

 

(b)  Makes a conforming change.

 

(c)  Requires the center to collect data to evaluate the program, rather than collecting data to evaluate the outcome of the pilot program.  Makes a conforming change.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 771.103, Health and Safety Code, to make conforming changes.

 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 771.104, Health and Safety Code, to make conforming changes. 

 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 771.106, Health and Safety Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 771.106.  New heading: FUNDING OF PROGRAM.  (a)  Authorizes the appropriation of money in the 9-1-1 services fee fund and other state funds to The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston on behalf of the center to fund the program. 

 

(b) - (d)  Makes conforming changes. 

 

SECTION 5. Amends Section 771.107, Health and Safety Code, to delete existing text providing 2009 as the end of the requirement that the center make biennial reports of its findings to certain elected officials no later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year.

 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 771.109, Health and Safety Code, to make conforming changes.

 

SECTION 7.  Repealer: Section 771.110 (Expiration), Health and Safety Code.

 

SECTION 8.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.