SRC-JJJ H.B. 2966 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2966 76R10175 KLA-FBy: Hilbert (Lindsay) Human Services 4/10/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, Texas law authorizes a governing body to adopt an ordinance creating a hospital authority if the governing body finds that the creation of the authority is in the best interest of the municipality and its residents. All hospital authorities may own or operate a hospital, but only hospital authorities that are located in a county with a population of 35,000 or less, rural area, or an area that is not delineated as an urbanized area by the federal census bureau may own or operate other medical facilities that cater to the elderly or disabled. The governing body of the Tomball County Hospital District wants to operate a nursing home, an assisted living facility on land it owns adjacent to its hospital. H.B. 2966 would establish the authority of certain hospital authorities to provide facilities and services for the elderly or disabled. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2966 establishes the authority of certain hospital authorities to provide facilities and services for the elderly or disabled. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 262.034, Health and Safety Code, by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (g), to provide that this section applies only to certain authorities, including a municipality with a population of less than 12,000 and a county with a population of 2.5 million or more at the time the authority begins operating a facility or providing a service. Prohibits the authority from owning or operating more than 50 licensed nursing home beds and is not subject to Subsection (f). SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.