BWH H.B. 2277 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS COUNTY AFFAIRS H.B. 2277 By: Counts 3-26-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The FISHER COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT was created as Chapter 448 of the 63rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1973. During the following regular session, Section 4 of the original Enabling Act was amended at Chapter 313 of the 64th Legislature, Regular Session, 1975, modifying the manner with which the directors of the FISHER COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT were elected. PURPOSE This legislation expands the authority of the hospital district to address the increased scope of medical related services and administrative functions, and addresses the elcction of directors. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Sec. 2, is amended by adding language that provides for the expansion of the Hospital District's geographic service area and for the expansion of the types of health related services the hospital can provide that did not exist when the District was created. The expansions are necessary to generate more revenues to help support a rural hospital. SECTION 2. Sec. 4(c) AND (f), are amended to change the election date for Directors from April to May, to more closely follow the election notification time frames used in other county elections, and to provide for possible changes in the method by which directors are elected. SECTION 3. Sec. 4A is added to provide for additional alternative methods of electing the Hospital District's directors to be more responsive and representative of the residents of the dis trict. SECTION 4. Sec. 5 is amended to clarify the duties and responsibilities of the administrator of the Hospital District, to provide for the more effective recruitment and retention of health care providers, to broaden the Hospital District's ability to contract to provide services to other governmental or corporate entities and to expand the Hospital District's geographic area and health-related services to the public. SECTION 5. Sec.6 is amended to clarify and delineate the fiscal responsibilities of the administrator and board of directors concerning annual proposed budgets. SECTION 6. Sec. 7 is amended to provide for the purchase, construction, acquisition, repair or renovation of buildings and improvements to provide for the expanding health care services of the district. SECTION 7. Sec. 11 is amended to increase the minimum amount of a contract before it must be advertised for bids from $5,000 to $10,000. It further deletes superseded statutory provisions and replaces them with current references to the Local Government Code and Government Code. SECTION 8. Sec. 12 is amended to provide a mandate to secure the Hospital District's deposits in a bank if those deposits exceed the maximum amount secured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. SECTION 9. Sec. 15 is amended to delete references to superseded provisions concerning eminent domain, replacing them with current references to the Property Code. SECTION 10. Sec. 16 is amended to delete the prior specific language concerning the assessment and collection of property taxes, substituting the appraisal, assessment and collection provisions of the Tax Code. This further allows for the board to appoint an assessor-collector or contract for the assessment and collection of taxes as provided in the Tax Code. SECTION 11. Sec. 17A is added to authorize the board to borrow money in the event of an emergency, with certain restrictions, and to pledge unencumbered collateral as security for such loans. SECTION 12. Sec. 23A is added to provide, if needed or required by the residents of the district, for the dissolution of the Hospital District. SECTION 13. Effective date: SEPTEMBER 1, 1997. SECTION 14. Emergency Clause.