BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1437

By: Turner, Sylvester

Appropriations

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, interested parties note, the state has two dedicated accounts that are intended to appropriate funding for uncompensated trauma care: the designated trauma facility and emergency medical services account and the regional trauma account. In recent years, the parties explain, the legislature has not fully appropriated all funds available to trauma facilities, which has left some facilities facing significant challenges with regard to facility operations. H.B. 1437 seeks to create a more efficient process to distribute funds to trauma facilities by consolidating the two accounts.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 1437 abolishes the regional trauma account and transfers any unexpended and unobligated balance of money in that account to the designated trauma facility and emergency medical services account. The bill repeals certain Health and Safety Code provisions relating to the regional trauma account and a provision exempting the designated trauma facility and emergency medical services account from Government Code provisions regarding the disposition of interest on investments and the use of dedicated revenue.

H.B. 1437 amends the Transportation Code to redirect the deposit of a portion of revenue from certain traffic penalties relating to photographic traffic signal enforcement systems from the regional trauma account to the designated trauma facility and emergency medical services account.

H.B. 1437 amends the Health and Safety Code to remove earnings of the designated trauma facility and emergency medical services account as a component of the account.

H.B. 1437 repeals the following provisions:

· Section 780.003(c), Health and Safety Code

· Chapter 782, Health and Safety Code

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.