LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 12, 2007

TO:	Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1033 by Uresti (Relating to emergency medical services.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to remove the exemption from applicability of Chapter 773 to the use of emergency medical services providers for transporting patients who are under a physician’s care between medical facilities or between a medical facility and a private residence using a stretcher.

The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to prohibit a person/entity who does not hold an emergency medical services provider license issued by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) from transporting a patient by stretcher in a vehicle. HHSC would be required by November 1, 2007 to adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law proposed by the bill.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.

HHSC reports that implementing the provisions of the bill could be achieved using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

A local governmental entity that employs emergency medical services providers for transporting patients by stretcher would have to ensure that applicable staff are licensed. No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

529 Health and Human Services Commission

LBB Staff:

JOB, CL, DB