Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB982 by Kolkhorst (Relating to awareness of and access to health care service programs available during a disaster or emergency.), As Passed 2nd House
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time as there is no current data on the number of potential applicants to which the grant program would apply.
The bill would require the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to implement the provisions of the bill if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose and if the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, TDEM would be allowed to use other available appropriations to implement the provisions of the bill.
The bill would require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to collaborate with local medical organizations that represent licenses physicians who practice in a county or public health region.
The bill would establish a task force on disaster affecting issues certain persons who are elderly or disabled. The task force would be required to develop and submit a report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of the legislature before December 1, 2020.
It is assumed that the provisions of the bill relating to the emergency plan, collaboration with local medical organizations, and the task force could be absorbed using existing resources at TDEM and the DSHS.
The bill would also establish a grant program to provide financial support for certain disaster related activities. The bill would require the TDEM to enter into a performance based contract with each grant recipient and then monitor and enforce the terms of the contract. The contract must authorize the division to recoup grant money from a grant recipient for failure of the grant recipient to comply with the terms of the contract.
The administration and funding of the grant program cannot be determined, as there is no current data on the number of potential applicants to which the grant program would apply. This analysis assumes this number and the potential cost would be significant.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 537 State Health Services, Department of