SB1377 - Relating to a grant program to provide financial assistance to qualified ambulance service providers in certain rural counties.

  2025S0114-1 02/14/25     By: Perry S.B. No. 1377     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a grant program to provide financial assistance to   qualified ambulance service providers in certain rural counties.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 130, Local Government   Code, is amended by adding Section 130.914 to read as follows:           Sec.   130.914.     RURAL AMBULANCE SERVICE GRANT PROGRAM. (a)   In this section:                 (1)     "Grant program" means the rural ambulance service   grant program established by this section.                 (2)     "Qualified county" is a county that has a   population of 68,750 or less.                 (3)     "Qualified rural ambulance service provider"   means a private safety entity or public agency as those terms are   defined by Section 772.001, Health and Safety Code, licensed by the   Department of State Health Services to provide emergency medical   services and operating predominantly in a rural area.           (b)     The comptroller shall establish and administer the   rural ambulance service grant program to support the state purpose   of ensuring adequate ground ambulance services by providing   financial assistance to qualified rural ambulance service   providers in qualified counties.           (c)     Not later than the 30th day after the first day of a   qualified county's fiscal year, the county may submit a grant   application to the comptroller. A county may submit only one   application each fiscal year.   If a county is awarded a grant under   this program, the county is ineligible to apply for an additional   grant.           (d)     The comptroller may award a grant to a qualified county   using money appropriated to the comptroller for that purpose and   only in accordance with a contract between the comptroller and the   county that includes conditions providing the comptroller with   sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of providing   adequate ground ambulance services is accomplished. In awarding   grants, the comptroller shall consider:                 (1)     the distance from a qualified county's county seat   to the nearest Level I trauma facility; and                 (2)     the county's ability to otherwise obtain the money   necessary to provide adequate ground ambulance services.           (e)     The comptroller may award a grant under this section   only in the following applicable amount:                 (1)     for a county with a population of less than 10,000,   an amount not to exceed $500,000; or                 (2)     for a county with a population between 10,000 and   68,750, an amount not to exceed $350,000.           (f)     A qualified county awarded a grant under this section   may use or authorize the use of the grant money only to purchase   ambulances as provided by comptroller rule.           (g)     A qualified county awarded a grant under this section   may not reduce the budget of the qualified rural ambulance service   provider for the county's next fiscal year following the fiscal   year of the grant award.           (h)     The comptroller may disburse a grant award to a   qualified county before the county places an order for an   ambulance. The county shall purchase and take possession of an   ambulance with money awarded under the grant program not later than   the fifth anniversary of the date the county receives the money.   The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to implement this   section, including rules to establish:                 (1)     a standardized application process, the form to   apply for a grant, and the manner of submitting the form;                 (2)  deadlines for:                       (A)  applying for a grant;                       (B)  disbursing grant money; and                       (C)  spending grant money;                 (3)  procedures for:                       (A)     monitoring the disbursement of grant money to   ensure compliance with this section; and                       (B)     requiring the return of grant money awarded   if a county fails to use the money for a purpose authorized by this   section; and                 (4)     the type of ground ambulance vehicles that may be   purchased with grant money.          SECTION 2.  A qualified county, as defined by Section   130.914(a)(2), Local Government Code, as added by this Act, may   apply for a rural ambulance service grant on or after January 1,   2026.          SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2026, the comptroller   of public accounts shall establish and administer the rural   ambulance service grant program and adopt the rules necessary to   implement the program as required by Section 130.914, Local   Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.