Bill

HB 1437

84(R) - 2015
House Appropriations
House Appropriations
Appropriations
Emergency services

Vote Recommendation

Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Sylvester Turner

Co-Author(s)

Sarah Davis

Bill Caption

Relating to certain dedicated accounts in the general revenue fund that fund trauma facilities and emergency medical services.

Fiscal Notes

A fiscal note dated April 21, 2015 anticipates a two-year net impact to General Revenue Related Funds of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2017.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Bill Analysis

House Bill 1437 would amend Section 542.406 of the Transportation Code relating to the deposit of revenue from certain traffic penalties. 

It would require that the 50 percent of revenue derived from civil or administrative penalties collected by the local authority under the section an sent to the comptroller be deposited to the credit of the designated trauma facility and emergency medical services account under section 780.003 (instead of the regional trauma account currently).

It would require the same regarding Section 707.008 of the Transportation Code.

House Bill 1437 would repeal Section 780.003(c) of the Health and Safety Code that indicates that Sections 403.095 (regarding the use of dedicated funds) and 404.071 (regarding the disposition of interest on investments) of the Government Code do not apply to the trauma facility and emergency medical services account.

It would also repeal Chapter 782 of the Health and Safety Code relating to regional emergency medical services.

Vote Recommendation Notes

House Bill 1437 would consolidate the General Revenue-Dedicated Regional Trauma Account with the General Revenue-Dedicated Designated Trauma Facility and EMS Account to only keep the Trauma Facility and EMS Account.

According to the statement of purpose, the legislature has not fully appropriated all funds available to trauma facilities, which has left some facilities facing significant challenges with regard to facility operations. House Bill 1437 seeks to create a more efficient process to process to distribute funds to trauma facilities.

The provisions of this bill do not affect our Liberty Principles. As a consequence, we will remain neutral.