H.B. No. 3134
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the operation of the Hutchinson County Hospital
1-3 District.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 4.03(d), Chapter 77, Acts of the 71st
1-6 Legislature, Regular Session, 1989, is amended to read as follows:
1-7 (d) After the initial election of directors, an election
1-8 shall be held on the first Saturday in May each year and the
1-9 appropriate number of successor directors shall be elected for
1-10 staggered three-year <two-year> terms, with as near as possible to
1-11 one-third of the elected members' terms expiring each year. The
1-12 commissioners court shall annually within 10 days of the date that
1-13 elected directors are elected appoint the appropriate number of
1-14 directors to serve staggered three-year terms. The commissioners
1-15 court may not appoint a person to serve more than two successive
1-16 terms.
1-17 SECTION 2. Chapter 77, Acts of the 71st Legislature, Regular
1-18 Session, 1989, is amended by adding Sections 5.16, 5.17, and 5.18
1-19 to read as follows:
1-20 Sec. 5.16. LIABILITY COVERAGE; INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The
1-21 board may purchase and maintain liability insurance coverage for an
1-22 officer, director, board appointee, member of the medical staff, or
1-23 district employee to protect the person from liability that arises
2-1 from performing a duty in the person's capacity as an officer or
2-2 employee of the district or member of the medical staff.
2-3 (b) The board may agree to defend or indemnify an officer,
2-4 director, board appointee, member of the medical staff, or district
2-5 employee with regard to a claim, cost, expense, or liability
2-6 incurred as a result of performing a duty in the person's capacity
2-7 as an officer or employee of the district or member of the medical
2-8 staff. The board may establish a self-insurance program to fund an
2-9 indemnity obligation under this subsection.
2-10 Sec. 5.17. EXPENDITURES FOR RECRUITING AND CONDUCTING
2-11 EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) The board may spend district funds, enter
2-12 into agreements, and take other necessary action to recruit
2-13 physicians and other persons to serve on the district's medical
2-14 staff or to be employed by the district, including:
2-15 (1) advertising and marketing;
2-16 (2) paying travel, recruiting, and relocation
2-17 expenses;
2-18 (3) providing a loan or scholarship to a physician or
2-19 other person currently enrolled in health care education courses at
2-20 an institution of higher education who contractually agrees to
2-21 become a district employee or a member of the medical staff; and
2-22 (4) providing offices without the payment of rent or
2-23 by otherwise subsidizing the cost of office space or other
2-24 facilities for a health care professional, including a physician.
2-25 (b) The board may spend district funds, enter into
3-1 agreements, and take other necessary action to conduct, participate
3-2 in, or otherwise assist in providing health care educational
3-3 programs for current or prospective staff members or employees.
3-4 Sec. 5.18. BORROWING FUNDS. The board may borrow money to
3-5 pay the district's operating expenses in an amount not to exceed
3-6 the amount of tax or other revenue the district expects to receive
3-7 during the fiscal year in which the money is borrowed. The
3-8 district may pledge all or part of the tax or other revenue
3-9 received during the fiscal year in which the board borrows money
3-10 under this section to repay the indebtedness.
3-11 SECTION 3. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
3-12 (b) The election of directors scheduled before the effective
3-13 date of this Act to be held in May 1996 shall be held, and the
3-14 director who receives the highest total number of votes shall be
3-15 elected to serve a three-year term, and the director who receives
3-16 the second highest total number of votes shall be elected to serve
3-17 a two-year term.
3-18 (c) The election of directors scheduled before the effective
3-19 date of this Act to be held in May 1997 shall be held, and the
3-20 director who receives the highest total number of votes shall be
3-21 elected to serve a three-year term, and the director who receives
3-22 the second highest total number of votes shall be elected to serve
3-23 a two-year term.
3-24 (d) The commissioners court of Hutchinson County shall
3-25 stagger the terms of appointed members so that the appointed
4-1 members serve staggered three-year terms. This subsection expires
4-2 December 31, 1997.
4-3 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
4-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.