IMF S.B. 1396 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


STATE AFFAIRS
S.B. 1396
By: Lindsay (S. Turner)
5-20-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, governing boards of Municipal Hospitals and Municipal Hospital
Authorities are not required to hold open meetings to deliberate the
pricing or financial planning of a bid or negotiation for the provision of
goods and services or information relating to a new product line or
proposed service. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1396 would provide the same private meeting allowances
for hospital districts as are afforded to municipal hospitals and
municipal hospital authorities. 

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.  Amends Section 551.085 of the Government Code to include
hospital districts created under general or special law to be listed under
the provision of entities not required to conduct certain open meetings.
The section allows hospital district  governing boards the opportunity to
discuss in private information relating to bids or negotiations for the
arrangement or provision of services of product lines if the information
would give advantage to competitors of the hospital district.  The section
also provides hospital district governing boards the opportunity to
discuss in private information relating to a proposed new service or
product line of the hospital district.  

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.