1-1 By: Thompson, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Ellis) H.B. No. 1854 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 1999; 1-3 May 3, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Human 1-4 Services; May 12, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 12, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to indigent care provided by the Harris County Hospital 1-9 District. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 281, Health and Safety 1-12 Code, is amended by adding Section 281.0514 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 281.0514. HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT; CONTRACT 1-14 WITH CERTAIN HOSPITALS. (a) The Harris County Hospital District 1-15 may contract for indigent health care services with at least one 1-16 hospital that is: 1-17 (1) located in the district; 1-18 (2) exempt from federal income tax under Section 1-19 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and its subsequent 1-20 amendments, by being listed as an exempt entity under any 1-21 subdivision of Section 501(c) of that code; and 1-22 (3) substantially devoted to providing hospital 1-23 services to socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in 1-24 the geographical area of the district. 1-25 (b) A contract under this section is subject to Section 1-26 281.051(a). 1-27 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-28 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-29 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-30 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-31 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-32 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-33 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-34 * * * * *