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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the awarding of grants to initiate, expand, maintain, |
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and improve emergency medical services and to support medical |
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systems and facilities that provide trauma care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 3. Section 773.119(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended as follows: |
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(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish |
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eligibility criteria for awarding the grants. The rules must |
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require the department to consider: |
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(1) the need of an area for the provision of emergency |
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medical services or trauma care and the extent to which the grant |
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would meet the identified need; |
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(2) the availability of personnel and training |
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programs; |
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(3) the availability of other funding sources; |
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(4) the assurance of providing quality services; |
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(5) the use or acquisition of helicopters for |
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emergency medical evacuation; [and] |
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(6) the development or existence of an emergency |
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medical services system; and |
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(7) the development of a centralized system for the |
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dispatch, triage, transport, and transfer of patients, including |
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the use or acquisition of technology, to ensure coordinated patient |
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transports and transfers, the efficient utilization of trauma care |
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and emergency medical services. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |