HEALTH PROFESSIONS REGULATORY FUND H.B. 5354: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bill 5354 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Gary McDowell
House Committee: Appropriations
Senate Committee: Appropriations
Date Completed: 12-10-07
CONTENT
The Bureau of Health Professions in the Department of Community Health (DCH) is responsible for the licensure and regulation of over 20 health-related occupations. Fees remitted by health professionals for needed State licenses are allocated to the Health Professions Regulatory Fund. Current law states that the resources in the Health Professions Regulatory Fund may be used only to cover the cost associated with regulation and licensure of health professionals.
Executive Order 2007-03, enacted in March, reduced General Fund support for health information technology initiatives by $7.25 million. Senate Bill 404, a supplemental appropriation enacted in May of this year, used $7.25 million of the nearly $11.0 million in excess funding in the Health Professions Regulatory Fund to continue support for health information technology.
House Bill 5354 would amend the Public Health Code to permit the DCH to use funds in the Health Professions Regulatory Fund for health information technology, subject to appropriation by the Legislature and approval by the Governor.
The bill also would remove obsolete language in the Public Health Code abolishing the Official Prescription Form Program Fund, an action that has already been completed.
MCL 333.16315
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY 2006-07 Department of Community Health appropriation provided $9.5 million Gross, $7.25 million GF/GP for new health information technology efforts. General Fund support for these efforts was removed and replaced with State restricted funds in Executive Order 2007-03 and Senate Bill 404. Passage of House Bill 5354 would fully implement the modifications in fund source used to support health information technology in FY 2006-07.
Fiscal Analyst: David FosdickAnalysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. 5354/0708