Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB935 by Zerwas (Relating to emergency medical air transportation funding.), As Engrossed
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB935, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($25,726,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
Because the bill does not make appropriations from the new General Revenue Dedicated account, the balance of the account would, for certification purposes, offset the reduction to General Revenue Related Funds.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2018
($12,304,000)
2019
($13,422,000)
2020
($13,422,000)
2021
($13,422,000)
2022
($13,422,000)
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from New General Revenue Dedicated Emergency Medical Air Transportation Account
2018
($12,304,000)
$12,304,000
2019
($13,422,000)
$13,422,000
2020
($13,422,000)
$13,422,000
2021
($13,422,000)
$13,422,000
2022
($13,422,000)
$13,422,000
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code and the Transportation Code to create the Emergency Medical Air Transportation Account as a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund. The account would be used by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to fund emergency medical air transportation and to reimburse providers of emergency medical air transportation. The bill would take effect October 1, 2017.
The Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) projects the bill would result in a decrease of $12,304,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $13,422,000 in subsequent fiscal years in revenue deposited to the General Revenue Fund offset by an increase of $12,304,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $13,422,000 in subsequent fiscal years in revenue deposited to the new General Revenue Dedicated Emergency Medical Air Transportation Account.
This legislation would do one of more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either within or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
Methodology
Based on Legislative Budget Board analysis of DSHS, HHSC, and CPA, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
The bill would reduce the percentage of revenue collected from state traffic fines currently deposited to the General Revenue Fund from 67 percent to 50 percent and direct the 17 percent of revenues collected from state traffic fines into the Emergency Medical Air Transportation Account.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Municipal League, the fiscal impact to municipalities is not anticipated to be significant.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 529 Health and Human Services Commission