BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1592

By: Schwertner

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that freestanding emergency medical care facilities should be held to the same standard as emergency medical care facilities associated with licensed hospitals regarding the assessment of administrative penalties for certain violations. S.B. 1592 seeks to address this issue by revising the cap on certain administrative penalties assessed against freestanding emergency medical care facilities.

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

S.B. 1592 amends the Health and Safety Code to remove the $1,000 cap on the administrative penalty that the Department of State Health Services may impose on a person licensed to establish or operate a freestanding emergency medical care facility who violates statutory provisions relating to such facilities or a rule or order adopted under those provisions. The bill raises the cap on the total amount of the penalty assessed for such a violation continuing or occurring on separate days from $5,000 to $25,000.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.