81R9424 JSC-D
 
  By: Burnam H.B. No. 1436
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to depositing revenue received by this state from
  undocumented immigrants to the indigent emergency medical services
  and preventative health care reimbursement fund.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The legislature recognizes that undocumented
  immigrants bring in approximately $424.7 million more in annual
  revenue to the state than the state spends on services provided to
  them, and yet many do not have health insurance and are ineligible
  for public assistance for medical expenses. It is the intent of the
  legislature to allocate this revenue to help cover the expenses of
  medical care for indigent persons, some of whom are undocumented
  immigrants.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. INDIGENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND PREVENTATIVE
  HEALTH CARE REIMBURSEMENT FUND
         Sec. 61.081.  INDIGENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND
  PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE REIMBURSEMENT FUND ESTABLISHED.  (a)  The
  indigent emergency medical services and preventative health care
  reimbursement fund is a dedicated account in the general revenue
  fund.
         (b)  The comptroller shall annually deposit the first $424.7
  million of revenue that the state receives that is not otherwise
  dedicated by another law or by the constitution to the credit of the
  fund.
         (c)  Money in the fund may be appropriated only to provide
  state assistance under this chapter or otherwise reimburse a
  governmental entity or hospital district for the cost of emergency
  medical services, preventative health care services, and other
  health care services provided to indigent persons that is not
  reimbursed by Medicaid or another public state or federal funding
  source.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.