HBA-MSH C.S.S.B. 1564 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 1564
By: Duncan
Urban Affairs
5/16/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, funding methods for emergency medical services in the City of
Big Spring are insufficient to support the services.  C.S.S.B. 1564
authorizes certain cities to assess a fee on water, sewer, gas, or
electrical services to help fund emergency medical services. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 1564 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize the governing
body of a municipality that on January 1, 2001 had a population of 5,000 or
more, provided services through full-time employees of the emergency
medical services department of the municipality's fire department, was not
within a district that otherwise provides emergency medical services, and
was within a county with a population of less than 60,000 to levy or assess
a fee by ordinance in an amount not to exceed $2 per month to be paid by
persons to whom water, sewer, gas, or electrical services are provided by
the municipality.  The bill requires the fee if imposed to be collected in
the same manner as any other utility payment collected by the municipality.
The bill provides that the fee must be enacted prior to November 1, 2002.
The bill authorizes the funds collected from such a fee to be used only for
the provision of emergency medical services within the municipality or the
county in which the municipality is located. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.S.B.1564 differs rom the original by providing that the fee must be
enacted prior to November 1, 2002. The substitute provides that it applies
only to municipalities that met the coverage requirements on January 1,
2001.