Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1477 by Price (Relating to the use of grants under the emergency medical services assistance program and the distribution of certain revenue received by the comptroller.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1477, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($15,032,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
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
2020
($7,516,000)
2021
($7,516,000)
2022
($7,516,000)
2023
($7,516,000)
2024
($7,516,000)
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Ems & Trauma Care Account 5046
2020
($7,516,000)
$7,516,000
2021
($7,516,000)
$7,516,000
2022
($7,516,000)
$7,516,000
2023
($7,516,000)
$7,516,000
2024
($7,516,000)
$7,516,000
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would establish the Emergency Medical Services Scholarship Program. The bill would authorize the Commissioner of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to provide financial assistance to emergency medical services personnel to pay tuition and fees for eligible coursework at institutions of higher education. Funding for this financial assistance would come from General Revenue Dedicated Account 5046- Permanent Fund for Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care. The bill would direct the Comptroller to reduce the percentage of state traffic fines allocated to the General Revenue Fund from 67 percent to 57 percent, and allocate 10 percent of state traffic fines to Account 5046.
Emergency medical services personnel would apply to DSHS for scholarship assistance under the program.
This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either in, with, or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. Legislative policy, implemented as Government Code 403.095, consolidated special funds (except those affected by constitutional, federal, or other restrictions) into the General Revenue Fund as of August 31, 1993 and eliminated all applicable statutory revenue dedications as of August 31, 1995. Each subsequent Legislature has reviewed bills that affect funds consolidation. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
Methodology
According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the bill's provisions would move an estimated $7,516,000 each year out of undedicated General Revenue and into General Revenue Dedicated Account 5046. Any appropriation of funds in Account 5046 would require an appropriation prior to disbursal.
DSHS and Health and Human Services Commission indicate that the provisions of the bill could be absorbed with existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of