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.

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