BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1473

By: Nichols

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Taxpayers finance indigent care services received by individuals under the Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act. Unemployed individuals who are medically able to work should be required to register for work as a condition for receiving these benefits.

S.B. 1473 authorizes a public hospital or hospital district to establish procedures consistent with those used by the Health and Human Services Commission under provisions relating to financial assistance and service programs for administering an employment services program, and requiring an applicant or eligible resident to register for work with the Texas Workforce Commission.

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. 1473 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize a public hospital or hospital district to establish procedures consistent with those used by the Health and Human Services Commission under provisions relating to financial assistance and service programs for administering an employment services program and requiring an applicant or eligible resident to register for work with the Texas Workforce Commission. The bill requires the public hospital or hospital district to notify each person with a pending application and all eligible residents of the requirements of the employment services program not less than 30 days before the program is established.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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