1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the board of hospital managers of the Lubbock County
 1-3     Hospital District.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 8, Chapter 484, Acts of the 60th
 1-6     Legislature, Regular Session, 1967, is amended to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 8.  BOARD OF HOSPITAL MANAGERS.  (a)  The commissioners
 1-8     court and the Texas Tech University board of regents shall appoint
 1-9     a board of hospital managers, consisting of not less than five nor
1-10     more than seven members, who shall serve for a term of two years,
1-11     with overlapping terms if desired, and with initial appointments to
1-12     terms of office arranged accordingly, without pay, and whose duties
1-13     shall be to manage, control and administer the hospital or hospital
1-14     system, including medical facilities or other health facilities, of
1-15     the hospital district.  The Texas Tech University board of regents
1-16     shall appoint one ex officio member and the commissioners court
1-17     shall appoint the remaining members.  The ex officio member
1-18     appointed by the Texas Tech University board of regents shall have
1-19     all powers of a member of the board, except that the member may not
1-20     vote.  The ex officio member shall attend executive sessions of the
1-21     board, shall have access to all documents reviewed or considered by
1-22     the board or its staff, and shall have any and all other powers of
1-23     a member of the board with the exception of voting.  The board of
1-24     managers shall have the power and authority to sue and be sued and
 2-1     to promulgate rules and regulations for the operation of the
 2-2     hospital or hospital system, including medical facilities or other
 2-3     health facilities.
 2-4           (b)  The board shall appoint a general manager, to be known
 2-5     as the administrator of the hospital district.  The administrator
 2-6     shall hold office for a term not to exceed two years, and shall
 2-7     receive such compensation as may be fixed by the board.  The
 2-8     administrator shall be subject to removal at any time by the board.
 2-9     The administrator shall, before entering into the discharge of his
2-10     duties, execute a bond payable to the district, in the amount of
2-11     not less than $10,000, conditioned that he shall well and
2-12     faithfully perform the duties required of him, and containing such
2-13     other conditions as the board may require.  The administrator shall
2-14     perform all duties which may be required of him by the board, and
2-15     shall supervise all of the work and activities of the district and
2-16     have general direction of the affairs of the district, within such
2-17     limitations as may be prescribed by the board.  He shall be a
2-18     person qualified by training and experience for the position of
2-19     administrator.
2-20           (c)  The board of managers shall have the authority to
2-21     appoint to the staff such doctors, and employ such technicians,
2-22     nurses and other employees of every kind and character as may be
2-23     deemed advisable for the efficient operation of the hospital or
2-24     hospital system, including medical facilities or other health
2-25     facilities; provided that no contract or term of employment shall
2-26     exceed the period of two years.
2-27           (d)  The board of managers, with the approval of the
 3-1     commissioners court shall be authorized to contract with any county
 3-2     for care and treatment of such county's sick, diseased and injured
 3-3     persons, and with the state and agencies of the federal government
 3-4     for the care and treatment of such persons for whom the state and
 3-5     such agencies of the federal government are responsible.  Further,
 3-6     under the same conditions, the board of managers may enter into
 3-7     such contracts with the state and federal government as may be
 3-8     necessary to establish or continue a retirement program for the
 3-9     benefit of its employees.
3-10           (e)  A majority of the board of hospital managers shall
3-11     constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.  From
3-12     among its members, the board shall choose a chairman, who shall
3-13     preside; or in his absence a chairman pro tem shall preside; and
3-14     the administrator or any member of the board may be appointed
3-15     secretary.  The board shall require the secretary to keep suitable
3-16     records of all proceedings of each meeting of the board.  Such
3-17     record shall be read and signed after each meeting by the chairman
3-18     or the member presiding, and attested by the secretary.  The board
3-19     shall have a seal, on which shall be engraved the name of the
3-20     hospital district; and said seal shall be kept by the secretary and
3-21     used in authentication of all acts of the board.
3-22           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-23           (b)  The change in law made by this Act relating to the
3-24     composition of the board of hospital managers of the Lubbock County
3-25     Hospital District does not affect the eligibility of a member
3-26     serving immediately before the effective date of this Act to
3-27     continue to serve on the board for the term to which the member was
 4-1     appointed.  The Texas Tech University board of regents shall
 4-2     appoint a member to the board of hospital managers in accordance
 4-3     with Section 8, Chapter 484, Acts of the 60th Legislature, Regular
 4-4     Session, 1967, as amended by this Act, to fill the next vacancy
 4-5     that occurs after the effective date of this Act.
 4-6           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 4-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 4-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 4-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2961 was passed by the House on May
         11, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2961 was passed by the Senate on May
         25, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor