SRC-JXG S.B. 1145 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1145
76R6207 MXM-DBy: Ellis
Finance
4/9/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Harris County Hospital District is the largest hospital
system in Texas, and the sixth largest in the United States; it serves a
county population of over 3.2 million people. The annual budget of the
hospital district is approximately $529 million. In 1998, it provided
charity care to over 260,000 people. In recent months, the hospital
district has experienced management problems. S.B. 1145 would require the
comptroller to review the effectiveness and efficiency of the budget and
operations of the hospital district, and report the results to the
legislature by September 1, 2000. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1145 requires the comptroller to review the budget of the
Harris County Hospital District. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. REVIEW BY COMPTROLLER OF CERTAIN HOSPITAL DISTRICTS. Requires
the comptroller to review the effectiveness and efficiency of the budgets
and operations of each hospital district to which this Act applies.
Requires the comptroller to file a report containing the results of the
review under Subsection (a) of this section with the governor, lieutenant
governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officers
of each committee of the senate and the house of representatives
responsible for approving legislation governing the district, no later than
September 1, 2000. 

SECTION 2. APPLICABILITY. Provides that this Act applies only to a hospital
district located in a county with a population of 2.5 million or more. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.