BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1327

By: Nelson

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Health information technology can increase the efficiency of health care providers and improve the quality of health care and patient outcomes.  Hospitals and facilities in rural and remote areas of the state lack the computer equipment and resources needed to use health information technology to increase the quality of health care.  This bill enables rural hospitals to participate in the health care quality and safety improvements available from health information technology by allowing an institution or agency of higher education to donate surplus data processing equipment to these hospitals.

S.B. 1327 authorizes a university system or certain institutions or agencies of higher education to donate surplus data processing equipment to rural hospitals.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1327 amends the Government Code to authorize a university system or institution or agency of higher education that is included within the definition of "state agency" under provisions governing state purchasing and general services to donate data processing equipment that is surplus property to a public or private hospital located in a rural county.  The bill defines "rural county", for purposes of this provision as having the meaning assigned under provisions relating to rural health facility capital improvements, which is a county that has a population of 150,000 or less or, with respect to a county that has a population of more than 150,000 and that contains a geographic area that is not delineated as urbanized by the federal census bureau, that part of the county that is not delineated as urbanized.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.