BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3307

By: White

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that allowing emergency services districts to provide certain public health services could help reduce the number of unnecessary emergency room visits and save taxpayer dollars while also increasing the quality of care received by at-risk individuals and those in rural communities. H.B. 3307 seeks to provide this authority.

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

H.B. 3307 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize an emergency services district to provide certain public health services, contract with the state or a local government to provide those services, and charge a reasonable fee for performing those services for or on behalf of a person or entity. The bill specifies that a reference in the provisions governing emergency services districts to the district providing emergency services includes public health services. The bill authorizes a district to make necessary improvements and adopt rules and regulations for the purposes of the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.