BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1327
81R6667 KSD-F By: Nelson
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
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 establish the use of health information technology to increase the quality of healthcare. 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.
As proposed, S.B. 1327 permits institutions or agencies of higher education to donate extra computer equipment to rural hospitals.
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 2175.304, Government Code, by adding Subsection (e), to authorize, notwithstanding Subsections (b) (relating to requiring the governing board of each university system or agency of higher education to establish certain procedures) and (c) (relating to the procedure from Subsection (b) being required to give preference to transferring the property in a certain manner), a university system or institution or agency of higher education included within the definition of "state agency" under Section 2151.002 (Definitions) to donate data processing equipment that is surplus property to a public or private hospital located in a rural county. Defines "rural county."
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.