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                                  * * * * *