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.