AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 1929 would amend Section 615.022 (Transportation Expenses of Certain Counties for Senior Citizens) of the Local Government Code to provide Dallas County government the authority to operate a program that would provide transportation services, using county resources, to senior citizens and other permitted residents to events now permissible under existing statute.
Under a program operating in Harris County, senior citizens are able to be transported using county vehicles, to civic, community, educational, and recreational activities in and outside their home county. Amending this statute would allow Dallas County seniors and other residents the same type services. H.B. 1929 further amends Section 615.022 to allow those who provide healthcare assistance to seniors to accompany seniors to these activities.
Specifically, H.B. 1929 would allow Dallas County to provide transportation to senior citizens and their caregivers to travel to county-run health centers and preventative health and wellness events. Supporters of this legislation view it as proactive in their efforts to lower emergency and chronic health care costs sometimes incurred by seniors.
H.B. 1929 amends current law relating to the payment in certain counties of expenses associated with the transportation of county residents and visitors for civic, community, educational, and recreational activities.
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 615.022, Local Government Code, to authorize the commissioners court of a county with a population of 2.2 million or more, rather than 3.3 million or more, to pay out of the county general funds costs and expenses for the transportation of county residents and visitors, rather than for the transportation of senior citizens, for civic, community, educational, and recreational activities within and outside the county if a majority of the costs and expenses paid are for the transportation of senior citizens.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2015.