Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 1615 adds a chapter to the Health and Safety Code to authorize hospital districts and certain counties to create health services districts with one or more other counties or hospital districts by concurrent order. The act requires a health services district to provide health care services to the indigent residents of the district, to manage funds contributed by each county or hospital district it contracts with, and to coordinate with health care providers for the long-term provision of health care services. A health services district is authorized to provide services to nonindigent residents on a sliding fee scale and to manage facilities and assets. The act prohibits a health services district from establishing or maintaining a convalescent or nursing home or from establishing or operating a personal care facility.

            The act requires the creating counties and hospital districts to contract with the health services district to provide, at a minimum, the health care services the county or hospital district is required to provide. The creating counties and districts are authorized to transfer management and operation of land, buildings, and equipment and operating funds and reserves to the district on its creation. For the operation of the district, contracting counties and hospital districts are required to contribute certain funds, including funds received under the Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act and from the state's tobacco settlement. Health services districts are prohibited from issuing general obligation bonds but may issue revenue bonds for specified purposes. The act limits the term of contracts for health services districts to six years and includes other contract requirements.

            Senate Bill 1615 also includes detailed provisions concerning district administration; powers and duties of the health services districts and the creating counties and hospital districts, including the districts' authority concerning the financial circumstances of patients and relatives legally responsible for the patients' support; district finances, including the authority of the districts relating to bonds; and the dissolution of the districts.