SRC-SLL H.B. 3587 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3587
By: Hirschi (Haywood)
Intergovernmental Relations
5-15-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

The Wichita General Hospital is seeking measures to lease the Bethania
Regional Health Care Center.  Texas antitrust laws provide for certain
exemptions to county and city boards in order to lease hospital
facilities.  Precedent has been set in the Texas Legislature for state
action immunity by the passage of laws allowing other county and city
board hospital lease arrangements.  This bill will provide regulations
regarding the acquisition or lease of hospital facilities by certain
county and municipal hospital boards. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3587 provides regulations regarding the acquisition or
lease of hospital facilities by certain county and municipal hospital
boards. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 265.037, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (d), to authorize a hospital board existing in a county with a
population of a certain size or a municipality with population of a
certain size, as an exercise of its powers of a public agency and body
politic, to purchase, construct, receive, lease, or otherwise acquire
hospital facilities, including the sublease of one or more hospital
facilities, regardless of whether the action might be considered
anticompetitive under the antitrust laws of the United States or this
state. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.