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