1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the Fisher County Hospital District.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 2, Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd
1-5 Legislature, Regular Session, 1973, is amended to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 2. The district herein authorized to be created shall
1-7 take over, and there shall be transferred to it, title to any and
1-8 all lands, buildings, improvements, equipment, cash, moneys,
1-9 accounts receivable, negotiable bonds, and choses in action in
1-10 anywise pertaining to the hospital or hospital system that may be
1-11 owned by Fisher County, or any city or town within such county at
1-12 the time of the election for the creation of the district; and
1-13 thereafter, the district shall have full title to all such
1-14 properties (real, personal, mixed, concrete, or abstract) and
1-15 provide for the establishment of a hospital system by the purchase,
1-16 construction, acquisition, repair, or renovation of buildings and
1-17 equipment, and equipping same, and the administration thereof for
1-18 hospital purposes. Such district shall assume all outstanding
1-19 obligations and indebtedness incurred by any city or town within
1-20 said county or by Fisher County for hospital purposes prior to the
1-21 creation of any district. The district has full responsibility for
1-22 operating hospital facilities and for furnishing medical care and
1-23 hospital care for the district's needy residents. In the
1-24 geographic service area designated by the board of directors, the
2-1 district may operate or provide for:
2-2 (1) the operation of a mobile emergency medical
2-3 service; and
2-4 (2) home health services, long-term care services,
2-5 skilled nursing care services, intermediate nursing care services,
2-6 assisted living services, hospice care, or other health-related
2-7 services.
2-8 SECTION 2. Sections 4(c) and (f), Chapter 448, Acts of the
2-9 63rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1973, are amended to read as
2-10 follows:
2-11 (c) An election of directors shall be held on the first
2-12 Saturday in May [April] of each year to elect the appropriate
2-13 number of directors. Notice of the election shall be published one
2-14 time in a newspaper of general circulation in the district at least
2-15 35 days before [not more than 45 nor less than 30 days prior to]
2-16 the date of an election of directors. The notice shall state the
2-17 purpose for which the election is being called and the date of the
2-18 election and voting places for the election.
2-19 (f) Except as provided by Section 4A of this Act, all [All]
2-20 directors shall be elected at-large [unless the board is presented
2-21 with a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the qualified
2-22 voters of the district asking that the directors be elected by
2-23 precincts. On receiving the petition, the board shall order a
2-24 special election to determine if a majority of the qualified voters
2-25 of the district desire that the directors be elected by precincts.
2-26 The election shall be held within 30 days after the petition is
2-27 received by the board, and notice of the purpose of the election
3-1 and the date and voting places for the election shall be given in a
3-2 newspaper with general circulation in the district not less than 15
3-3 days before the day of the election. The ballot for the election
3-4 shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
3-5 proposition: 'The election of directors of the Fisher County
3-6 Hospital District from precincts.' If a majority of the qualified
3-7 voters of the district participating in the special election vote
3-8 for the proposition, the board shall divide the district into four
3-9 directors precincts coterminous with the four county commissioners
3-10 precincts, and at the next election for directors after the special
3-11 election, one director shall be elected at-large and one director
3-12 shall be elected from each precinct. Except for the director
3-13 elected at-large, each director must be a resident of the precinct
3-14 which he represents. Directors from odd-numbered precincts and the
3-15 director at-large shall serve initial terms of two years; the other
3-16 directors shall serve initial terms of one year. Thereafter, each
3-17 director shall serve for a term of two years and until his
3-18 successor has been duly elected and has qualified].
3-19 SECTION 3. Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd Legislature,
3-20 Regular Session, 1973, is amended by adding Section 4A to read as
3-21 follows:
3-22 Sec. 4A. (a) On its own initiative or on receipt of a
3-23 petition that is signed by a number of residents of the district
3-24 equal to at least 10 percent of the registered voters in the
3-25 district, the board of directors by order shall seek input from the
3-26 residents of the district to determine whether to modify the method
3-27 of electing the board of directors under this Act so that the
4-1 directors are elected by one of the following election methods:
4-2 (1) four single-member districts and one at-large
4-3 member;
4-4 (2) five single-member districts;
4-5 (3) four single-member districts, with each district
4-6 coextensive with a county commissioner's precinct, and one at-large
4-7 member; or
4-8 (4) cumulative voting.
4-9 (b) Not later than the 30th day after the date on which the
4-10 board of directors enters an order under Subsection (a) of this
4-11 section, the board shall establish an advisory committee composed
4-12 of residents of the district to advise and assist the board in
4-13 making the determination required by Subsection (a) of this
4-14 section. The members of the advisory committee must represent all
4-15 segments of the population of the district.
4-16 (c) The advisory committee shall hold a public hearing
4-17 regarding the proposed change in the election format not later than
4-18 the 60th day after the date on which it is established. Not later
4-19 than the 30th day after the date on which the public hearing is
4-20 held, the advisory committee shall submit a recommendation to the
4-21 board of directors that includes comments and concerns raised by
4-22 the residents of the district regarding any proposed change in the
4-23 election format.
4-24 (d) After reviewing the recommendations of the advisory
4-25 committee under Subsection (c) of this section, the board of
4-26 directors may adopt an order changing the method by which the board
4-27 of directors is elected.
5-1 (e) A modified election format adopted by the board of
5-2 directors under this section shall be implemented at the next
5-3 general election for the directors of the district for which the
5-4 change can be implemented consistently with the Election Code and
5-5 federal law.
5-6 SECTION 4. Section 5, Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd
5-7 Legislature, Regular Session, 1973, is amended to read as follows:
5-8 Sec. 5. (a) The board of directors shall manage, control,
5-9 and administer the hospital system and all funds and resources of
5-10 the district, but in no event shall any operating, depreciation, or
5-11 building fund reserves be invested in any funds or securities other
5-12 than those specified in Articles 836 or 837, Revised Civil Statutes
5-13 of Texas, 1925, as amended. The district, through its board of
5-14 directors, shall have the power and authority to sue and be sued,
5-15 to promulgate rules and regulations governing the operation of the
5-16 hospital, hospital system, its staff, and its employees.
5-17 (b) The board of directors shall appoint a qualified person
5-18 to be known as the administrator or manager of the hospital
5-19 district [and may in its discretion appoint an assistant to the
5-20 administrator or manager]. Such administrator or manager [and
5-21 assistant administrator or manager, if any,] shall serve at the
5-22 will of the board and shall receive such compensation as may be
5-23 fixed by the board. The administrator or manager shall, upon
5-24 assuming his duties, execute a bond payable to the hospital
5-25 district in an amount to be set by the board of directors, [in no
5-26 event less than $5,000,] conditioned that he shall perform the
5-27 duties required of him, and containing such other conditions as the
6-1 board may require. The cost of the bond is the responsibility of
6-2 the district. The administrator or manager shall supervise all the
6-3 work and activities of the district and shall have general
6-4 direction of the affairs of the district, subject to the
6-5 limitations as may be prescribed by the board.
6-6 (c) The board of directors shall have the authority to
6-7 appoint to the staff such doctors as it may deem necessary for the
6-8 efficient operation of the district, and may provide for temporary
6-9 appointments to the staff if warranted by circumstances. The board
6-10 may delegate to the administrator or manager the authority to
6-11 employ medical practitioners, technicians, nurses, and employees of
6-12 the district and to incur reasonable and necessary expenses
6-13 relating to the search, recruitment, and hiring of medical
6-14 practitioners and employees for the district, including contracting
6-15 with a private entity such as a professional recruiting service.
6-16 (d) Such board shall be authorized to contract with any
6-17 other political subdivision or governmental agency whereby the
6-18 district will provide investigatory or other services as to the
6-19 medical, hospital, or welfare needs of the inhabitants of the
6-20 district and shall be authorized to contract with any municipality,
6-21 county, special district, or other political subdivision of the
6-22 state, or a public or private hospital, private corporation,
6-23 partnership, or cooperative, [or incorporated municipality] located
6-24 inside or outside its boundaries for the care and treatment of the
6-25 sick, diseased, or injured persons of any such county, [or]
6-26 municipality, special district, or political subdivision, and shall
6-27 have the authority to contract with the State of Texas or agencies
7-1 of the federal government for the treatment of the sick, diseased,
7-2 or injured persons.
7-3 (e) This Act does not limit or prohibit the district from
7-4 providing health care services to any ill or injured person,
7-5 regardless of whether the person is a resident of the district.
7-6 For purposes of this subsection, "health care service" includes
7-7 home health care services, respiratory or physical therapy
7-8 services, mobile emergency medical services, and clinic services.
7-9 SECTION 5. Section 6, Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd
7-10 Legislature, Regular Session, 1973, is amended to read as follows:
7-11 Sec. 6. (a) The district shall be operated on the basis of
7-12 a fiscal year as established from time to time by the board of
7-13 directors of the district, provided such fiscal year shall not be
7-14 changed more often than once in any 24-month period. The board
7-15 shall cause an independent audit to be made of the financial
7-16 condition of the district, which, together with other records of
7-17 the district, shall be open to inspection at the principal office
7-18 of the district, such audit to be made covering such fiscal year,
7-19 and the same shall be filed at the office of the district as soon
7-20 as it is completed. The administrator or manager shall prepare an
7-21 annual budget for approval by the board of directors. The proposed
7-22 budget must [shall also] contain a complete financial statement of
7-23 the district that includes:
7-24 (1) the [showing all] outstanding obligations of the
7-25 district;
7-26 (2) the amount of cash on hand to the credit of each
7-27 [and every] fund of the district;
8-1 (3) the amount of money received by the district [,
8-2 the funds received] from all sources during the previous year;
8-3 (4) [,] the amount of money [funds] available to the
8-4 district from all sources during the ensuing year;
8-5 (5) the amount of the [, with] balances expected at
8-6 the [year] end of the year in which the budget is being prepared;
8-7 (6) the [, and] estimated amount of revenues and
8-8 balances available to cover the proposed budget; and
8-9 (7) the estimated tax rate which will be required[,
8-10 and the proposed expenditures and disbursements and the estimated
8-11 receipts and collections for the following fiscal year].
8-12 (b) A public hearing on the annual budget shall be held by
8-13 the board of directors after notice of such hearing has been
8-14 published one time at least 10 days before the date set therefor.
8-15 Notice of the budget hearing shall be published in a newspaper or
8-16 newspapers which individually or collectively provide general
8-17 circulation in the hospital district. Any property taxpayer of the
8-18 district shall have the right to be present and participate in said
8-19 hearing within such rules of decorum and procedures as may be
8-20 prescribed by the board. At the conclusion of the hearing, the
8-21 budget, as proposed by the administrator, shall be acted upon by
8-22 the board of directors, and as modified or approved, such budget
8-23 shall become final.
8-24 (c) [(b)] The board of directors shall have authority to
8-25 make changes in the budget as in their judgment the law warrants
8-26 and the interest of the taxpayer demands. The annual budget may be
8-27 amended as the circumstances require but the budget and amendments
9-1 shall be approved by the board of directors. As soon as
9-2 practicable after the close of each fiscal year, the administrator
9-3 or manager shall prepare for the board a full sworn statement of
9-4 all moneys belonging to the district and a full account of the
9-5 disbursement of same.
9-6 SECTION 6. Section 7, Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd
9-7 Legislature, Regular Session, 1973, is amended to read as follows:
9-8 Sec. 7. The board of directors shall have the power and
9-9 authority to issue and sell bonds in the name and upon the faith
9-10 and credit of such hospital district for the purchase,
9-11 construction, acquisition, repair, or renovation of buildings and
9-12 improvements and equipping the same for hospital purposes, the
9-13 acquisition and operation of a mobile emergency medical service,
9-14 and for any or all [of such] purposes designed to provide, improve,
9-15 or expand the health care services of the district. At the time of
9-16 the issuance of any bonds, except those for which provision is made
9-17 in Section 8, a tax shall be levied by the board sufficient to
9-18 create an interest and sinking fund to pay the interest on and
9-19 principal thereon as same mature, providing such tax together with
9-20 any other taxes levied for said district shall not exceed the rate
9-21 of tax voted under the provisions of Section 3 of this Act. Except
9-22 as provided in Section 8, no bonds shall be issued by or on behalf
9-23 of such hospital district until authorized by a majority of the
9-24 qualified electors of the district who own taxable property therein
9-25 and who have duly rendered the same for taxation voting at an
9-26 election called for such purpose. The order for bond election
9-27 shall specify the date of the election, the amount of bonds to be
10-1 authorized, the maximum maturity thereof, the maximum rate of
10-2 interest they are to bear, the place or places where the election
10-3 shall be held, the presiding judge and alternate judge for each
10-4 voting place, and provide for clerks as in county elections.
10-5 Notice of any bond election shall be given as provided in Article
10-6 704, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended, and shall
10-7 be conducted in accordance with the Election Code [general laws of
10-8 Texas pertaining to general elections], except as modified by the
10-9 provisions of this Act; provided, however, an election to authorize
10-10 the issuance of bonds may be held at the same time as the election
10-11 for which provision is made in Section 3, and in such event notice
10-12 of a bond election may be given in the manner provided in said
10-13 Section 3.
10-14 SECTION 7. Section 11, Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd
10-15 Legislature, Regular Session, 1973, is amended to read as follows:
10-16 Sec. 11. The board of directors of such district shall have
10-17 the power to prescribe the method and manner of making purchases
10-18 and expenditures by and for such hospital district, and shall also
10-19 be authorized to prescribe all accounting and control procedures.
10-20 All contracts for construction involving the expenditure of more
10-21 than $10,000 [$2,000] may be made only after advertising in the
10-22 manner provided by Chapter 252, Local Government Code [Chapter 163,
10-23 Acts of the 42nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1931, as amended
10-24 (Article 2368a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)]. The provisions of
10-25 Chapter 2253, Government Code [Article 5160, Revised Civil Statutes
10-26 of Texas, 1925, as amended], relating to performance and payment
10-27 bonds, shall apply to construction contracts let by the district.
11-1 The district may acquire equipment for use in its hospital system
11-2 and mortgage or pledge the property so acquired as security for the
11-3 payment of the purchase price, but any such contract shall provide
11-4 for the entire obligation of the district to be retired within five
11-5 years from the date of the contract. Except as permitted in the
11-6 preceding sentence and as permitted by Sections 7 and 8 of this
11-7 Act, the board may not incur any obligation payable from any
11-8 revenues of the district, taxes or otherwise, except from funds on
11-9 hand or to be on hand within the then current and following fiscal
11-10 year of the district.
11-11 SECTION 8. Section 12, Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd
11-12 Legislature, Regular Session, 1973, is amended to read as follows:
11-13 Sec. 12. The board of directors of the district shall name
11-14 one or more banks within or without, either or both, its boundaries
11-15 to serve as depository for the funds of the district. All funds of
11-16 the district, except those invested as provided in Section 5 of
11-17 this Act, and those transmitted to a bank or banks of payment for
11-18 bonds or obligations issued or assumed by the district, shall be
11-19 deposited as received with the depository bank and shall remain on
11-20 deposit, provided that nothing herein shall limit the power of the
11-21 board to place a portion of such funds on time deposit or purchase
11-22 certificates of deposit. Before the district deposits the
11-23 district's funds in a bank in an amount that exceeds the maximum
11-24 amount secured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the
11-25 bank must execute a bond or other security in an amount sufficient
11-26 to secure from loss the district funds that exceed the amount
11-27 secured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
12-1 SECTION 9. Section 15, Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd
12-2 Legislature, Regular Session, 1973, is amended to read as follows:
12-3 Sec. 15. The district shall have the right and power of
12-4 eminent domain for the purpose of acquiring by condemnation any and
12-5 all property of any kind and character in fee simple, or any lesser
12-6 interest therein, within the boundaries of the district necessary
12-7 to the powers, rights, and privileges conferred by this Act, in the
12-8 manner provided by Chapter 21, Property Code, but the district is
12-9 not required to deposit in the trial court money or a bond as
12-10 provided by Section 21.021(a), Property Code [the general law with
12-11 respect to condemnation by counties, provided that the district
12-12 shall not be required to make deposits in the registry of the trial
12-13 court of the sum required by Paragraph 2 of Article 3268, Revised
12-14 Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended, or to make bond as
12-15 therein provided]. In condemnation proceedings being prosecuted by
12-16 the district, the district shall not be required to pay in advance
12-17 or give bond or other security for costs in the trial court, nor to
12-18 give any bond otherwise required for the issuance of a temporary
12-19 restraining order or a temporary injunction nor to give bond for
12-20 costs or for supersedeas on any appeal or writ of error.
12-21 SECTION 10. Section 16, Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd
12-22 Legislature, Regular Session, 1973, is amended to read as follows:
12-23 Sec. 16. (a) The directors shall have the authority to
12-24 levy taxes for the entire year in which the district is established
12-25 as the result of the election herein provided. [All taxes of the
12-26 district shall be assessed and collected on county tax values as
12-27 provided in Subsection (b) hereof unless the directors, by majority
13-1 vote, elect to have taxes assessed and collected by its own tax
13-2 assessor-collector under Subsection (c) hereof. Any such election
13-3 may be made prior to December 1 annually and shall govern the
13-4 manner in which taxes are thereafter assessed and collected, until
13-5 changed by a similar resolution.]
13-6 (b) The Tax Code governs the appraisal, assessment, and
13-7 collection of district taxes. [Under this subsection, district
13-8 taxes shall be assessed and collected on county tax values in the
13-9 same manner as provided by law with relation to county taxes. The
13-10 tax assessor-collector of the county in which said district is
13-11 situated shall be charged and required to accomplish the assessment
13-12 and collection of all taxes levied by and on behalf of the
13-13 district. The assessor-collector of taxes shall charge and deduct
13-14 from payments to the hospital district an amount as fees for
13-15 assessing and collecting the taxes at a rate of one percent of the
13-16 taxes assessed and two percent of the taxes collected, but in no
13-17 event shall the amount paid exceed $5,000 in any one calendar year.
13-18 Such fees shall be deposited in the officers' salary fund of the
13-19 county and reported as fees of office of the county tax
13-20 assessor-collector. Interest and penalties on taxes paid to the
13-21 hospital district shall be the same as in the case of county taxes.
13-22 Discounts shall be the same as allowed by the county. The residue
13-23 of tax collections after deduction of discounts and fees for
13-24 assessing and collecting shall be deposited in the district's
13-25 depository. The bond of the county tax assessor-collector shall
13-26 stand as security for the proper performance of his duties as
13-27 assessor-collector of the district; or, if in the judgment of the
14-1 district board of directors it is necessary, additional bond
14-2 payable to the district may be required. In all matters pertaining
14-3 to the assessment, collection, and enforcement of taxes for the
14-4 district, the county tax assessor-collector shall be authorized to
14-5 act in all respects according to the laws of the State of Texas
14-6 relating to state and county taxes.]
14-7 (c) The board may provide for the appointment of a tax
14-8 assessor-collector for the district or may contract for the
14-9 assessment and collection of taxes as provided by the Tax Code.
14-10 [Under this subsection, taxes shall be assessed and collected by a
14-11 tax assessor-collector appointed by the directors, who shall also
14-12 fix the terms of his employment, compensation, and requirement for
14-13 bond to assure the faithful performance of his duties, but in no
14-14 event shall such bond be for less than $5,000. The directors shall
14-15 also annually appoint five persons to serve as a board of
14-16 equalization and shall fix their compensation. Each member of the
14-17 board and the tax assessor-collector shall be residents of the
14-18 district and own real property subject to hospital district
14-19 taxation, and each shall have the same duties, including the
14-20 obligation to subscribe the oath of office, as required by county
14-21 officials exercising such powers and duties. Except as in this law
14-22 provided to the contrary, all the provisions of Title 122, Revised
14-23 Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended, shall apply to the
14-24 district.]
14-25 SECTION 11. Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd Legislature,
14-26 Regular Session, 1973, is amended by adding Section 17A to read as
14-27 follows:
15-1 Sec. 17A. (a) If the board of directors of the district
15-2 declares that funds are not available to meet lawfully authorized
15-3 obligations of the district and that an emergency exists, the board
15-4 may borrow money at a rate not to exceed the maximum annual
15-5 percentage rate allowed by law for district obligations at the time
15-6 the loan is made.
15-7 (b) To secure a loan, the board of directors may pledge:
15-8 (1) revenues of the district that are not pledged to
15-9 pay bonded indebtedness of the district;
15-10 (2) district taxes to be imposed by the district
15-11 during the 12-month period following the date of the pledge that
15-12 are not pledged to pay the principal of or interest on district
15-13 bonds; or
15-14 (3) district bonds that have been authorized but not
15-15 sold.
15-16 SECTION 12. Chapter 448, Acts of the 63rd Legislature,
15-17 Regular Session, 1973, is amended by adding Section 23A to read as
15-18 follows:
15-19 Sec. 23A. (a) The district may be dissolved and its assets
15-20 and liabilities sold or transferred to another entity or person
15-21 only if the dissolution and sale or transfer are approved by a
15-22 majority of the qualified voters of the district voting in an
15-23 election called and held for that purpose.
15-24 (b) The board of directors may order an election on the
15-25 question of dissolving the district and disposing of the district's
15-26 assets and liabilities.
15-27 (c) The board of directors shall order an election on the
16-1 question of dissolving the district and disposing of the district's
16-2 assets and liabilities if the board receives a petition requesting
16-3 an election on the issue that is signed by at least 300 of the
16-4 registered voters of the district, according to the most recent
16-5 official list of registered voters. The election shall be called
16-6 not later than the 60th day after the date the petition is
16-7 presented to the district.
16-8 (d) The order calling the election must state:
16-9 (1) the nature of the election, including the
16-10 proposition that is to appear on the ballot;
16-11 (2) the date of the election;
16-12 (3) the hours during which the polls will be open; and
16-13 (4) the location of the polling places.
16-14 (e) The board of directors shall give notice of the election
16-15 by publishing a substantial copy of the election order in a
16-16 newspaper with general circulation in the district once a week for
16-17 two consecutive weeks. The first publication must appear at least
16-18 35 days before the date set for the election.
16-19 (f) The election shall be held not less than 45 days nor
16-20 more than 60 days after the date on which the election is ordered.
16-21 Section 41.001(a), Election Code, does not apply to an election
16-22 ordered under this Act.
16-23 (g) The ballot for the election shall be printed to permit
16-24 voting for or against the proposition: "The dissolution of the
16-25 Fisher County Hospital District and the ________ (transfer or sale,
16-26 as appropriate) of its assets and liabilities in the following
16-27 manner: _________________."
17-1 (h) The board of directors shall canvass the returns of the
17-2 election. If the board finds that the election results are
17-3 favorable to the proposition to dissolve the district and transfer
17-4 or sell its assets and liabilities, the board shall issue an order
17-5 declaring the district dissolved and shall proceed with the sale or
17-6 transfer of its assets and liabilities according to the plan
17-7 proposed on the ballot. If the board finds that the election
17-8 results are not favorable to the proposition to dissolve the
17-9 district, the board shall continue to administer the district and
17-10 another dissolution election may not be held before the first
17-11 anniversary of the date of the most recent election at which voters
17-12 disapproved the proposition.
17-13 (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
17-14 district may not be dissolved unless the board provides for the
17-15 sale or transfer of the district's assets and liabilities to
17-16 another entity or person.
17-17 (j) The dissolution of the district and the sale or transfer
17-18 of the district's assets and liabilities may not:
17-19 (1) contravene a trust indenture or bond resolution
17-20 relating to the outstanding bonds of the district; or
17-21 (2) diminish or impair the rights of a holder of any
17-22 outstanding bond, warrant, or other obligation of the district.
17-23 (k) The sale or transfer of the district's assets and
17-24 liabilities must satisfy the debt and bond obligations of the
17-25 district in a manner that protects the interests of the residents
17-26 of the district, including the residents' collective property
17-27 rights in the district's assets. A grant from federal funds is an
18-1 obligation that must be repaid in full. The district may transfer
18-2 or sell the district's assets only for due compensation, unless the
18-3 transfer or sale is made to another governmental agency serving the
18-4 district and using the transferred or purchased assets for the
18-5 benefit of the residents formerly in the district.
18-6 SECTION 13. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
18-7 SECTION 14. The importance of this legislation and the
18-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
18-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
18-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
18-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2277 was passed by the House on April
11, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2277 was passed by the Senate on May
5, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor