Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB463 by Springer (Relating to reciprocity agreements between certain air ambulance companies operating a subscription program.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 773 of the Health and Safety Code to require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules related to air ambulance companies that ensure the protection of health and safety, comply with federal law, and establish minimum standards for reciprocity agreements. The bill would require air ambulance companies that operate a subscription program to enter into reciprocity agreements with all other air ambulance companies in the same service delivery area that also operate a subscription program. DSHS has determined that the provisions of the bill could be implemented using existing resources. The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
The federal Airline Deregulation Act (ADA) applies to and therefore preempts state law in price regulations of air transportation. See 49 U.S.C.A. § 41713 and Texas Attorney General Opinion No. GA-0684.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.