Honorable Donna Campbell, Chair, Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1463 by Lucio (Relating to improving the delivery of health care services to veterans in this state.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Government Code to require the Office of the Governor to negotiate with certain federal agencies to improve health care services for veterans, including the establishment of a veteran's hospital in the Rio Grande Valley region and the prompt payment of claims submitted by community health care providers. The bill would require the Office of the Governor and The University of Texas System to identify shared resources of certain entities that would be used to provide quality health care in the Rio Grande Valley. The bill would require certain agencies to assist in the implementation of the bill. The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving two-thirds majority vote in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
The Office of the Governor, the Texas Veterans Commission, the Department of State Health Services, and the Health and Human Services Commission indicated that the duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished within each agency's existing resources.
The University of Texas System indicated the bill could have significant fiscal impact, but could not determine the potential costs because the new medical school is in the process of being established.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.