By Thompson, Coleman, Farrar, Turner of Harris,       H.B. No. 1854
         76R7070 DLF-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to indigent care provided by the Harris County Hospital
 1-3     District.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 281, Health and Safety
 1-6     Code, is amended by adding Section 281.0514 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 281.0514.  HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT; CONTRACT
 1-8     WITH CERTAIN HOSPITALS.  (a)  The Harris County Hospital District
 1-9     shall contract for indigent health care services with at least one
1-10     hospital that is:
1-11                 (1)  located in the district;
1-12                 (2)  exempt from federal income tax under Section
1-13     501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and its subsequent
1-14     amendments, by being listed as an exempt entity under any
1-15     subdivision of Section 501(c) of that code; and
1-16                 (3)  substantially devoted to providing hospital
1-17     services to socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in
1-18     the geographical area  of the district.
1-19           (b)  A contract under this section is subject to Section
1-20     281.051(a).
1-21           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-22     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-1     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-2     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-3     passage, and it is so enacted.
 2-4                          COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
 2-5           Amend H.B. 1854 as follows:
 2-6           On page 1, line 9, strike the word "shall" and replace with
 2-7     the word "may".
 2-8                                                                Swinford