1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the provision of charity care, indigent health care, 1-3 and other community benefits by certain nonprofit hospitals. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 311.044, Health and Safety Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: 1-7 (d) In determining the community-wide needs assessment 1-8 required by Subsection (b), a nonprofit hospital shall consider 1-9 consulting with and seeking input from representatives of the 1-10 following entities or organizations located in the community as 1-11 defined by Subsection (b): 1-12 (1) the local health department; 1-13 (2) the public health region under Chapter 121; 1-14 (3) the public health district; 1-15 (4) health-related organizations, including a health 1-16 professional association or hospital association; 1-17 (5) health science centers; 1-18 (6) private business; 1-19 (7) consumers; 1-20 (8) local governments; and 1-21 (9) insurance companies and managed care organizations 1-22 with an active market presence in the community. 1-23 (e) Representatives of a nonprofit hospital shall consider 1-24 meeting with representatives of the entities and organizations 2-1 listed in Subsection (d) to assess the health care needs of the 2-2 community and population served by the nonprofit hospital. 2-3 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-8 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-9 passage, and it is so enacted. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2384 was passed by the House on May 7, 1997, by a non-record vote; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2384 on May 29, 1997, and requested the appointment of a conference committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. 2384 on June 1, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2384 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 27, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. 2384 on June 1, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor