BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 1407
85R30478 SCL-F	By: Sheffield et al. (Seliger)
	Health & Human Services
	5/15/2017
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Interested parties have expressed a need to address the shortage of emergency medical services professionals, particularly in rural areas, and the lack of educational opportunities and training programs for such professionals. H.B. 1407 addresses these concerns by providing for the creation of the emergency medical services assistance program and the use of money from the permanent fund for emergency medical services and trauma care for grants under the program. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

H.B. 1407 amends current law relating to the establishment of the emergency medical services assistance program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 (Sections 773.253 and 773.257, Health and Safety Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subchapter I, as follows:

SUBCHAPTER I. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Sec. 773.251.� DEFINITIONS. Defines "educational curriculum," "general academic teaching institution," and "program."

Sec. 773.252.� ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) Requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to establish the emergency medical services assistance program (program) to provide financial and educational assistance to eligible emergency medical services providers.

(b) Provides that the program includes grants to eligible emergency medical services providers and an educational curriculum to provide training to rural emergency medical services personnel.

Sec. 773.253.� RULES. (a) Requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (executive commissioner) to adopt rules necessary to implement this subchapter, including certain rules.

(b) Requires that the rules have certain requirements.

Sec. 773.254. APPLICATION BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER. (a) Authorizes an emergency medical services provider to apply to DSHS in the form and manner provided by DSHS rule to receive assistance under the program.

(b) Authorizes DSHS, if DSHS determines an applicant is eligible for assistance under the program, to provide a grant under Section 773.257 to the applicant.

Sec. 773.255.� EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM. (a) Authorizes a general academic teaching institution (institution) or public technical institute (institute) to apply to DSHS in the form and manner provided by DSHS rule to develop and offer the educational curriculum under this subchapter.

(b) Authorizes DSHS to contract with not more than three qualified institutions or institutes to develop and offer the educational curriculum under this subchapter.

Sec. 773.256.� ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. Authorizes DSHS to provide administrative support to the program.

Sec. 773.257.� GRANTS. (a) Authorizes the commissioner of state health services (commissioner) to use money from the permanent fund for emergency medical services and trauma care established under Section 403.106 (Permanent Fund for Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care), Government Code, to provide grants, in addition to funding available from other sources, to emergency medical services providers applying for assistance under the program or to provide funding to an institution or institute offering the educational curriculum under this subchapter.

(b) Requires the commissioner to ensure that at least 60 percent of the grants provided under this section are provided to emergency medical services providers that serve a rural area.

(c) Requires the executive commissioner by rule to establish a procedure for the Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council to establish priorities for issuance of grants under this section.

(d) Requires DSHS to distribute grants under this section in accordance with the requirements of Subsection (b) and the grant priorities established under Subsection (c).

SECTION 2.� Provides that, notwithstanding another provision of this Act, DSHS is required to implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. Authorizes, but does not require, DSHS, if the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, to implement this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.