LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 8, 2009

TO:	Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB4532 by Chavez (Relating to reports regarding the provision of emergency ground ambulance services in counties.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require each county to assess the emergency ground ambulance services provided in that county from all sources. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) would be required to adopt rules governing the self-assessment not later than January 1, 2010.

Under provisions of the bill, a county or municipality would be authorized to establish reporting standards for emergency ground ambulance services that are more strict than those adopted by HHSC.

A county, municipality, or other entity would be authorized to operate an emergency ground ambulance services that is operated in accordance with federal laws, state laws, and other state and local rules.

Not later than March 1 of each year, starting March 1, 2011, a county would be required to publish a report on the availability of emergency ground ambulance services within the county for the preceding year and to make the report available on the county's Internet website. If the county does not have a website, it would be required to annually publish the report in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated related to preparing and publishing a self-assessment. It is assumed that a county, municipality, or other entity would operate an emergency ground ambulance service if sufficient resources were available.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, DB