1-1 By: Delisi (Senate Sponsor - Fraser) H.B. No. 2384 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 1997; 1-3 May 9, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Health 1-4 and Human Services; May 18, 1997, reported favorably by the 1-5 following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 18, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the provision of charity care, indigent health care, 1-9 and other community benefits by certain nonprofit hospitals. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Section 311.044, Health and Safety Code, is 1-12 amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: 1-13 (d) In determining the community-wide needs assessment 1-14 required by Subsection (b), a nonprofit hospital shall consider 1-15 consulting with and seeking input from representatives of the 1-16 following entities or organizations located in the community as 1-17 defined by Subsection (b): 1-18 (1) the local health department; 1-19 (2) the public health region under Chapter 121; 1-20 (3) the public health district; 1-21 (4) health-related organizations, including a health 1-22 professional association or hospital association; 1-23 (5) health science centers; 1-24 (6) private business; 1-25 (7) local governments; and 1-26 (8) insurance companies and managed care organizations 1-27 with an active market presence in the community. 1-28 (e) Representatives of a nonprofit hospital shall consider 1-29 meeting with representatives of the entities and organizations 1-30 listed in Subsection (d) to assess the health care needs of the 1-31 community and population served by the nonprofit hospital. 1-32 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-33 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-34 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-35 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-36 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-37 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-38 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-39 * * * * *