81R9424 JSC-D
By: Burnam H.B. No. 1436
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to depositing revenue received by this state from
undocumented immigrants to the indigent emergency medical services
and preventative health care reimbursement fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The legislature recognizes that undocumented
immigrants bring in approximately $424.7 million more in annual
revenue to the state than the state spends on services provided to
them, and yet many do not have health insurance and are ineligible
for public assistance for medical expenses. It is the intent of the
legislature to allocate this revenue to help cover the expenses of
medical care for indigent persons, some of whom are undocumented
immigrants.
SECTION 2. Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. INDIGENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND PREVENTATIVE
HEALTH CARE REIMBURSEMENT FUND
Sec. 61.081. INDIGENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND
PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE REIMBURSEMENT FUND ESTABLISHED. (a) The
indigent emergency medical services and preventative health care
reimbursement fund is a dedicated account in the general revenue
fund.
(b) The comptroller shall annually deposit the first $424.7
million of revenue that the state receives that is not otherwise
dedicated by another law or by the constitution to the credit of the
fund.
(c) Money in the fund may be appropriated only to provide
state assistance under this chapter or otherwise reimburse a
governmental entity or hospital district for the cost of emergency
medical services, preventative health care services, and other
health care services provided to indigent persons that is not
reimbursed by Medicaid or another public state or federal funding
source.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.