BWH S.B. 1623 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS COUNTY AFFAIRS S.B. 1623 By: Duncan (Isett) 5-12-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, based on an opinion issued by the attorney general, the Lubbock County Hospital District has ceased its funding of the medical examiners office, which had been funded through an interlocal agreement between the hospital district and the Lubbock County Commissioners Court, and in part, provided for non-salary expenses, including the transportation of bodies, office space, supplies, laboratory services, radiology services, and photography. In 1995 and again in 1997, in response to a request for reconsideration submitted by the county and the hospital district, the attorney general concluded that a county hospital district is not authorized to fund the salary and expenses of the medical examiner's office because the purpose of that office is to determine whether the death of a person under certain circumstances was caused by an unlawful act or omission, which is not a hospital purpose. S.B. 1623 would amend the hospital district's enabling statute to address the attorney general's concerns by allowing the hospital district to fund that portion of the medical examiner's office that is unrelated to criminal death investigations. PURPOSE This legislation establishes the power of the Lubbock County Hospital District to provide facilities and hospital-related equipment, supplies, and services to Lubbock County for the use of the medical examiner's office. 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 10, Chapter 484, Acts of the 60th Legislature, Regular Session, 1967, to require the board of managers, with the approval of the commissioners court, to provide office space, equipment, supplies, and services for the use of the county medical examiner's office for medical, hospital, and other non-criminal investigation related purposes. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.