By:  Brown                                            S.B. No. 1595
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the operation of the Angleton-Danbury Hospital
 1-2     District.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 2, Chapter 120, Acts of the 60th
 1-5     Legislature, Regular Section, 1967, is amended to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 2.  The District hereby authorized to be created shall
 1-7     provide for the establishment of a hospital or hospital system
 1-8     within its boundaries to furnish health care services [medical and
 1-9     hospital care] to persons residing in said District by the purchase,
1-10     construction, acquisition, repair or renovation of buildings and
1-11     improvements and the equipping of same and the administration
1-12     thereof for hospital purposes.  Such District shall assume full
1-13     responsibility for providing medical and hospital care for its
1-14     needy inhabitants.  The hospital system may include facilities,
1-15     equipment, and services to provide for domiciliary care and
1-16     treatment of sick, injured, or geriatric patients, outpatient
1-17     clinics, rural health clinics, convalescent home facilities,
1-18     assisted living or personal care facilities, physician's offices,
1-19     home health care services, durable medical equipment, long term
1-20     care, skilled nursing care, intermediate nursing care, preventive
1-21     care services, ancillary support, pharmacies, hospice care,
1-22     community mental health centers, alcohol or chemical dependency
 2-1     centers, or any other facility or equipment the board considers
 2-2     necessary or appropriate for providing health care services.  The
 2-3     district may also operate or assist in the operation of a mobile
 2-4     emergency medical service as part of the hospital system.  Since
 2-5     there is no hospital, hospital system or hospital facilities of any
 2-6     nature presently owned by Brazoria County or any city or town
 2-7     within the boundaries of said District, no provisions are made
 2-8     herein for the transfer of properties or equipment or the
 2-9     assumption of outstanding indebtedness heretofore incurred for
2-10     hospital purposes.  After establishment of such District, no other
2-11     municipality or political subdivision in Brazoria County shall have
2-12     the power to levy taxes or issue bonds or other obligations for
2-13     hospital purposes or for providing medical care within the
2-14     boundaries of the District.
2-15           SECTION 2.  Section 4, Chapter 120, Acts of the 60th
2-16     Legislature, Regular Session, 1967, is amended to read as follows:
2-17           Sec. 4.  For the purpose of electing a District Board of
2-18     Directors, said District is hereby divided into the following three
2-19     (3) areas:  Area Angleton, which shall be composed of all that
2-20     territory within Brazoria County Voting Precincts Nos. 1, 2 and 5
2-21     which lies within the boundaries of the Angleton Independent School
2-22     District and that part of Brazoria County Voting Precinct No. 6
2-23     which is west of Chocolate Bayou and within the boundaries of, said
2-24     Angleton Independent School District; Area Danbury, which shall be
2-25     composed of all that territory comprising the Danbury Independent
2-26     School District:  and Area Rosharon, which shall be composed of all
 3-1     that territory within Brazoria County Voting Precinct No. 9 which
 3-2     is not within the boundaries of the Danbury Independent School
 3-3     District and all that territory within Brazoria County Voting
 3-4     Precinct No. 21 which is not within the boundaries of the Manvel
 3-5     Independent School District.  The boundaries of said areas shall be
 3-6     fixed as of January 1, 1967, and subsequent changes of the
 3-7     boundaries of county voting precincts and/or school districts shall
 3-8     not affect or change the boundaries of said areas as herein set
 3-9     forth.
3-10           The management and control of said District is hereby and
3-11     shall be vested in a Board of Directors, which Board shall be
3-12     composed of nine (9) persons.  Except for the first Board of
3-13     Directors, one member shall be a resident of [and own taxable
3-14     property in] Area Angleton (said member to be known as "Director,
3-15     Position No. 1");. one member shall be a resident of [and own
3-16     taxable property in] Area Angleton (said member to be known as
3-17     "Director, Position No. 2"); one member shall be a resident of [and
3-18     own taxable property in] Area Angleton (said member to be known as
3-19     "Director, Position No. 3"); one member shall be a resident of [and
3-20     own taxable property in] Area Angleton (said member to be known as
3-21     "Director, Position No. 4"); one member shall be a resident of [and
3-22     own taxable property in] Area Angleton (said member to he known as
3-23     "Director, Position No. 5"); one member shall be a resident of [and
3-24     own taxable property in] Area Danbury (said member to be known as
3-25     "Director, Position No. 6") one member shall be a resident of [and
3-26     own taxable property in] Area Danbury (said member to be known as
 4-1     "Director, Position No. 7"); one member shall be a resident of and
 4-2     own taxable property in Area Rosharon (said member to be known as
 4-3     "Director, Position No. 8"); and one member shall be a resident of
 4-4     [and own taxable property in] the District at large (said member to
 4-5     be known as "Director, Position No. 9").  At all directors
 4-6     elections, all qualified voters in the District shall be permitted
 4-7     to vote for directors.
 4-8           Each [The following persons are hereby appointed to serve as
 4-9     the District's first Board of directors:  George Kennedy, Leeric
4-10     Giese, James Holcombe, Frank T. Smith, Al Waldrop, E. E. Brewer,
4-11     J.W. Jolley, Mrs. Edith Gundy and Clyde W. Neal.  As soon as
4-12     practicable after the effective date of this Act, each] member of
4-13     the [said] Board shall execute the Constitutional oath of office and
4-14     by making a good and sufficient bond, to be improved by the
4-15     Commissioners Court of Brazoria County, Texas, for $5,000 payable
4-16     to said District and conditioned upon the faithful performance of
4-17     his duties as such Director, and such oaths and bonds shall be kept
4-18     in the permanent records of said District.  The [Except for said
4-19     first Board of Directors, the] bonds of said Directors shall be
4-20     approved by the District's Board of Directors.  [Said first Board of
4-21     Directors shall serve until the first election of Directors, as
4-22     provided in this Act, and until their successors are elected and
4-23     qualified.]
4-24           At said creation and tax levy election mentioned in Section 3
4-25     hereof, there shall also be submitted to the resident qualified
4-26     electors of said proposed District a separate ballot continuing the
 5-1     names of all qualified persons who shall file their applications
 5-2     with the Secretary of the District's Board of Directors, not later
 5-3     than twenty (20) days prior to the date set for said election, to
 5-4     have their names placed on said ballot for election to the
 5-5     District's Board of Directors.  Each said application shall
 5-6     designate the number of the Director's position for which said
 5-7     application is made.  The offices of Directors of Positions Nos. 1,
 5-8     3, 5, 7 and 9 shall be filled by the five persons respectively
 5-9     receiving the largest number of votes cast for Director for each
5-10     respective position, and said persons shall serve until the second
5-11     Tuesday in January 1968, and until their successors are elected and
5-12     qualified.  At that time a general election shall be held in said
5-13     District, and the five persons respectively receiving the largest
5-14     number of votes cast for Director for each respective position
5-15     shall serve for two years and until their successors are elected
5-16     and qualified.  The offices of Directors of Positions Nos. 2, 4, 6
5-17     and 8 shall be filled by the four persons respectively receiving
5-18     the largest number of votes cast for Director for each respective
5-19     position, and said persons shall serve until the second Tuesday in
5-20     January 1969, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
5-21     At that time a general election shall be held in said District, and
5-22     the four persons respectively receiving the largest number of votes
5-23     cast for each respective position shall serve for two years and
5-24     until their successors are elected and qualified.  Thereafter, a
5-25     general election shall be held in said District each year for five
5-26     Directors and four Directors, respectively, and the term of office
 6-1     of each such Director shall be for a term of two years and until
 6-2     his successor is elected and qualified.
 6-3           SECTION 3.  Section 7A, Chapter 217, Acts of the 72nd
 6-4     Legislature, Regular Session, 1991, is amended to read as follows:
 6-5           Sec. 7A.  (a)  The board of directors may enter into an
 6-6     operating, management or consulting contract to obtain management
 6-7     or consulting services for the District or for any portion of the
 6-8     District The contract must provide that the board retains
 6-9     responsibility for and control of the District's operation.  A
6-10     company providing services to the District under an operating,
6-11     management or consulting contract, and the officers, directors, and
6-12     employees of the company, while performing services under the
6-13     contract for the benefit of the District shall be solely employees
6-14     of the District regarding the issue of the immunity or liability of
6-15     the company and its officers, directors, and employees, and shall
6-16     have immunity or limited liability under laws applicable to
6-17     employees of the hospital district (whether statutory or common
6-18     law) to the extent an employee of the hospital district would be so
6-19     entitled under the same circumstances.
6-20           (b)  The district, subject to the approval of the board of
6-21     directors, may provide primary care, emergency services, preventive
6-22     medical services, and other health related services outside the
6-23     district, provided that the services serve the purpose of the
6-24     district as established by this Act.
6-25           (c)  The board of directors may spend district funds, enter
6-26     into agreements and take other necessary action to recruit
 7-1     physicians and other persons to serve as medical staff members or
 7-2     employees of the district, including:
 7-3                 (1)  advertising and marketing,
 7-4                 (2)  paying travel, recruitment and relocation
 7-5     expenses, and
 7-6                 (3)  providing a loan or scholarship to a physician, or
 7-7     a person currently enrolled in health care education courses at an
 7-8     institution of higher education, who contractually agrees to become
 7-9     a district employee or medical staff member.
7-10           (d)  The board of directors may spend district funds, enter
7-11     into agreements, and take other necessary action to conduct
7-12     participate in, or otherwise assist in providing health care
7-13     educational programs for current or prospective medical staff
7-14     members or employees of the district.
7-15           (e)  The board of directors may provide retirement benefits
7-16     for employees of the district by establishing or administering a
7-17     retirement program or by participating in the Texas County and
7-18     District Retirement System or in another statewide retirement
7-19     system in which the district is eligible to participate.
7-20           SECTION 4.  Section 9, Chapter 271, Acts of the 62nd
7-21     Legislature, Regular Session, 1971, is amended to read as follows:
7-22           Sec. 9.  The Tax Code governs the appraisal, assessments, and
7-23     collection of District taxes.  The Board may provide for the
7-24     appointment of a tax assessor-collector for the District or may
7-25     contract for the assessment and collection of taxes as provided by
7-26     the Tax Code.  [The board of directors of the district shall
 8-1     designate as its assessor and collector of taxes for the district
 8-2     the county tax assessor and collector and the board of directors
 8-3     may require that all of the property in the district subject to
 8-4     district taxation shall be assessed at a greater rate of value than
 8-5     the same property is assessed for state and county purpose provided
 8-6     that the aggregate total of the assessed valuation of all such
 8-7     property shall not exceed a sum equal to 150% of the aggregate
 8-8     total the assessed valuation of all such property as reflected by
 8-9     the tax rolls of Brazoria County for the calendar year 1970; except
8-10     that when the aggregate total of the assessed valuation of all such
8-11     property as assessed for state and county purposes shall have
8-12     reached a sum equal to 150% of the aggregate total of the assessed
8-13     valuation of all such property as reflected by the tax rolls of
8-14     Brazoira County for the calendar year 1970, then thereafter the tax
8-15     rolls of Brazoria County as they relate to such proper shall be and
8-16     shall constitute the tax rolls for the district and all tax
8-17     valuations for the district and for the county shall thereafter be
8-18     the same.  Not later than October I of each year the board of
8-19     directors shall levy the tax on all property within the district
8-20     which is subject to taxation and shall immediately certify the rate
8-21     of such tax to the county tax assessor collector.  The tax so
8-22     levied shall be collected by said assessor collector in the same
8-23     manner and under the same conditions as Brazoria County taxes.]
8-24           [The board of directors of the district shall pay annually to
8-25     Brazoria County an amount equal to 1 1/2% of the amount of taxes
8-26     annually collected by said county tax assessor collector on behalf
 9-1     of the district.  The county tax assessor collector shall turn over
 9-2     all district taxes collected by him to the official depository of
 9-3     the district.]
 9-4           [The tax collection shall be deposited in the district's
 9-5     depository and may be withdrawn as directed by said district's
 9-6     board of directors.  All other income of such district shall be
 9-7     deposited in said depository.  Said board shall have authority to
 9-8     levy said tax for te entire year in which said district is
 9-9     established to obtain funds to initiate the operation of the
9-10     district.]
9-11           SECTION 5.  Section 12, Chapter 120, Acts of the 60th
9-12     Legislature, Regular Session, 1967, is amended to read as follows:
9-13           Sec. 12.  The Board of Directors shall have the power and
9-14     authority to issue and sell, as the obligation of such District,
9-15     and in the name and upon the faith and credit of such District,
9-16     bonds for the purchase, construction, acquisition, repair or
9-17     renovation of buildings and improvements and equipping the same for
9-18     hospital purposes and for any or all of such purposes.  Said bonds
9-19     shall be sold at such time or times, in such manner, at such price
9-20     and on such terms as may be determined by said Board.  A sufficient
9-21     annual tax shall be levied to create an interest and sinking fund
9-22     to pay the interest on and principal of said bonds as same mature,
9-23     providing said tax together with any other taxes levied for said
9-24     District shall not exceed a rate of seventy-five cents (75 ) on the
9-25     $100 valuation of all taxable property within said District in any
9-26     one year.  Such bonds shall be executed in the name of the District
 10-1    and on its behalf by the president of the Board of Directors,
 10-2    countersigned by the secretary of said Board, and shall be subject
 10-3    to the same requirements in the manner of approval thereof by the
 10-4    Attorney General of the State of Texas and the registration thereof
 10-5    by the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas as are
 10-6    by law provided for such approval and registration of bonds of
 10-7    counties of this state.  Upon the approval of such bonds by the
 10-8    Attorney General of Texas and registration by the Comptroller, the
 10-9    same shall be incontestable for any cause.  Until such time as the
10-10    bond proceeds are needed to carry out the bond purpose, such
10-11    proceeds may be invested in securities of the United States
10-12    Government and Federal Agencies or may be placed on time deposit or
10-13    in Certificates of Deposit, any or all.  No bonds (except refunding
10-14    bonds) shall be issued by such District until authorized by a
10-15    majority vote of the duly qualified resident electors of said
10-16    District, [who own taxable property within said district and who
10-17    have duly rendered the same for taxation,] voting in an election
10-18    called and held for such purpose.  Such election shall be called by
10-19    the Board of Directors on its own motion (except as provided in
10-20    Section 6), and the order calling said election shall specify the
10-21    date of same, the place or places where the election shall be held,
10-22    the presiding officers thereof, the purpose for which the bonds are
10-23    to be issued, the amount thereof, maximum interest (not to exceed
10-24    six per cent (6%) per anum), and the maximum maturity date of such
10-25    bonds (not to exceed forty (40) years from their date or dates of
10-26    issuance).  Notice of said election shall be given by publishing a
 11-1    substantial copy of the order calling the election in a newspaper
 11-2    of general circulation within the area of such District in
 11-3    accordance with the Election Code, Section 4.003(a)(1) [once a week
 11-4    for two (2) consecutive weeks, the date of the first publication to
 11-5    be at least (14) days prior to the date set for said election].
 11-6    Said bonds may be made optional for redemption prior to their
 11-7    maturity date at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  The
 11-8    District may, without election, issue bonds to refund and/or pay
 11-9    off any validly issued and outstanding District bonds, provided
11-10    that such refunding bonds shall bear interest at the same rate or
11-11    at a lesser rate than the bonds being refunded, unless it be shown
11-12    mathematically that a savings will result in the total amount of
11-13    interest to be paid.
11-14          SECTION 6.  Section 12A, Chapter 216, Acts of the 72nd
11-15    Legislature, Regular Session, 1991, is amended to read as follows:
11-16          Sec. 12A.  (a)  The Board of Directors shall determine the
11-17    type, number, and location of buildings required to establish and
11-18    maintain office facilities for staff physicians as necessary to
11-19    provide adequate medical care.
11-20          (b)  The Board of Directors may acquire property and
11-21    equipment and construct facilities for the District for use by
11-22    staff physicians and may mortgage or pledge the property,
11-23    facilities;, or equipment, acquired as security for the payment of
11-24    the purchase price or construction cost.
11-25          (c)  The Board, on behalf of the District may lease the
11-26    office facilities and equipment to staff physicians or may sell or
 12-1    otherwise dispose of the property, facilities, and equipment
 12-2          (d)  The Board may issue revenue and refunding bonds -to
 12-3    establish and maintain office facilities; for staff physicians
 12-4    under this section.  The bonds must be payable from and secured by
 12-5    a pledge of all or part of the district revenues from, the
 12-6    operation of district facilities.  The bonds must be issued in
 12-7    accordance with Sections 264.042-264.047(a), 264-048, and 264-049,
 12-8    Health and Safety Code, and with the effect specified by Section
 12-9    264.050, Health and Safety Code.
12-10          (e)  The Board of Directors shall have the power to issue
12-11    revenue bonds in the name and upon the faith and credit of such
12-12    hospital district for the purpose of purchasing, constructing,
12-13    repairing, renovating or acquiring buildings, sites, or
12-14    improvements and equipping the same for hospitals and the hospital
12-15    system.  The bonds shall be payable from and secured by a pledge of
12-16    all or part of the revenues derived from the operation of the
12-17    District's hospital system.  The bonds may be additionally secured
12-18    by a mortgage or deed of trust on all or part of District property.
12-19    The revenue bonds shall be issued in the manner provided by
12-20    Sections 264.042, 264.043, 264.046, 264.047, 264.048, and 264.049,
12-21    Texas Health and Safety Code, for the issuance of revenue bonds by
12-22    county hospital authorities.
12-23          SECTION 7.  Chapter 120, Acts of the 60th Legislature,
12-24    Regular Session, 1967, is amended by adding Section 12C to read as
12-25    follows:
12-26          Sec. 12C.  (a)  If the Board of Directors declares that funds
 13-1    are not available to meet the lawfully authorized obligations of
 13-2    the District and that an emergency exists, the Board may borrow
 13-3    money at a rate not to exceed the maximum annual percentage rate
 13-4    allowed by law for District obligations at the time of the loan.
 13-5          (b)  To secure a loan, the Board may pledge:
 13-6                (1)  the revenues of the District that are not pledged
 13-7    to pay the bonded indebtedness of the district;
 13-8                (2)  District taxes to be levied by the District during
 13-9    the 12-month period following the date of the pledge that are not
13-10    pledged to pay the principal of or interest on District bonds; or
13-11                (3)  District bonds that have been authorized but not
13-12    sold.
13-13          (c)  A loan for which taxes or bonds are pledged shall mature
13-14    not later than the first anniversary of the date on which the loan
13-15    is made.  A loan for which District revenues are pledged shall
13-16    mature not later than the fifth anniversary of the date on which
13-17    the loan is made.
13-18          (d)  The Board may not spend money obtained from a loan under
13-19    this section for any purpose other than the purpose for which the
13-20    Board declared an emergency.  If taxes or bonds are pledged to pay
13-21    the loan, the Board may not spend the loan proceeds other than for
13-22    the purpose for which the taxes were levied or the bonds were
13-23    authorized.
13-24          SECTION 8.  Chapter 120, Acts of the 60th Legislature,
13-25    Regular Session, 1967, is amended by adding Section 12D to read as
13-26    follows:
 14-1          Sec. 12D.  (a)  The Board may borrow money at a rate not to
 14-2    exceed the maximum annual percentage rate allowed by law for
 14-3    District obligations at the time of the loan.
 14-4          (b)  To secure a loan, the Board may pledge:
 14-5                (1)  the revenues of the District that are not pledged
 14-6    to pay the bonded indebtedness of the district;
 14-7                (2)  District taxes to be levied by the District during
 14-8    the 12-month period following the date of the pledge that are not
 14-9    pledged to pay the principal of or interest on District bonds; or
14-10                (3)  District bonds that have been authorized but not
14-11    sold.
14-12          (c)  A loan for which taxes or bonds are pledged shall mature
14-13    not later than the first anniversary of the date on which the loan
14-14    is made.  A loan for which District revenues are pledged shall
14-15    mature not later than the fifth anniversary of the date on which
14-16    the loan is made.
14-17          SECTION 9.  Chapter 120, Acts of the 60th Legislature,
14-18    Regular Session, 1967, is amended by adding Section 15A to read as
14-19    follows:
14-20          Sec. 15A.  (a)  The District may be dissolved only if the
14-21    dissolution is approved by a majority of the qualified voters of
14-22    the District voting in an election called and held for that
14-23    purpose.
14-24          (b)  The Board may order an election on the question of
14-25    dissolving the District and disposing of the district's assets and
14-26    obligations.  The Board shall order an election if the Board
 15-1    receives a petition requesting an election that is signed by a
 15-2    number of residents of the District equal to at least 15 percent of
 15-3    the registered voters in the District.
 15-4          (c)  The election shall be held not later than the 60th day
 15-5    after the date the election is ordered.  Section 41.001(a),
 15-6    Election Code, does not apply to an election ordered under this
 15-7    section.  The order calling the election shall state:
 15-8                (1)  the nature of the election, including the
 15-9    proposition that is to appear on the ballot;
15-10                (2)  the date of the election;
15-11                (3)  the hours during which the polls will be open; and
15-12                (4)  the location of the polling places.
15-13          (d)  The Board shall give notice of the election by
15-14    publishing a substantial copy of the election order in a newspaper
15-15    with general circulation in the District once a week for two
15-16    consecutive weeks.  The first publication must appear not less than
15-17    35 days before the date set for the election.  The ballot for the
15-18    election shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
15-19    proposition:  "The dissolution of the Angleton-Danbury Hospital
15-20    District."
15-21          (e)  If a majority of the votes in the election favor
15-22    dissolution, the Board shall find that the District is dissolved.
15-23    If a majority of the votes in the election do not favor
15-24    dissolution, the Board shall continue to administer the district,
15-25    and another election on the question of dissolution may not be held
15-26    before the first anniversary of the most recent election to
 16-1    dissolve the District.
 16-2          (f)  If a majority of the votes in the election favor
 16-3    dissolution, the Board shall:
 16-4                (1)  transfer the land, buildings, improvements,
 16-5    equipment, and other assets that belong to the District to a county
 16-6    or another governmental entity in the county in which the District
 16-7    is located; or
 16-8                (2)  administer the property, assets, and debts until
 16-9    all funds have been disposed of and all District debts have been
16-10    paid or settled.
16-11          (g)  If the District transfers the land, buildings,
16-12    improvements, equipment, and other assets to a county or other
16-13    governmental entity, the county or entity assumes all debts and
16-14    obligations of the District at the time of the transfer, and the
16-15    District is dissolved.
16-16          (h)  After the Board finds that the District is dissolved,
16-17    the Board shall:
16-18                (1)  determine the debt owed by the District; and
16-19                (2)  impose on the property included in the District's
16-20    tax rolls a tax that is in proportion included in the District's
16-21    tax rolls a tax that is in proportion of the debt to the property
16-22    value.
16-23          (i)  When all outstanding debts and obligations of the
16-24    District are paid, the Board shall order the secretary to return
16-25    the pro rata share of all unused tax money to each District
16-26    taxpayer.
 17-1          (j)  A taxpayer may request that the taxpayer's share of
 17-2    surplus tax money be credited to the taxpayer's county taxes.  If a
 17-3    taxpayer requests the credit, the Board shall direct the secretary
 17-4    to transmit the funds to the county tax assessor-collector.
 17-5          (k)  After the District has paid all its debts and has
 17-6    disposed of all its assets and funds as prescribed by this section,
 17-7    the Board shall file a written report with the Commissioners Court
 17-8    of Brazoria County setting forth a summary of the Board's actions
 17-9    in dissolving the District.
17-10          (l)  Not later than the 10th day after the date it receives
17-11    the report and determines that the requirements of this section
17-12    have been fulfilled, the Commissioners Court of Brazoria County
17-13    shall enter an order dissolving the District and releasing the
17-14    Board of Directors of the District from any further duty or
17-15    obligation.
17-16          (m)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, the
17-17    District may not be dissolved unless the Board provides for the
17-18    sale or transfer of the District's assets and liabilities to
17-19    another person or entity.  The dissolution of the District and the
17-20    sale or transfer of the District's assets or liabilities may not
17-21    contravene a trust indenture or bond resolution relating to the
17-22    outstanding bonds of the District.  The dissolution and sale or
17-23    transfer does not diminish or impair the rights of a holder of an
17-24    outstanding bond, warrant, or other obligation of the District.
17-25          (n)  The sale or transfer of the District's assets and
17-26    liabilities must satisfy the debt and bond obligations of the
 18-1    District in a manner that protects the interests of the residents
 18-2    of the District, including the residents' collective property
 18-3    rights in the District's assets.  A grant from federal funds is an
 18-4    obligation to be repaid in satisfaction.  The District may not
 18-5    transfer or dispose of the District's assets except for due
 18-6    compensation unless the transfer is made to another governmental
 18-7    entity that serves the District and the transferred assets are to
 18-8    be used for the benefit of the residents of the District.
 18-9          SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
18-10          SECTION 11.  The importance of this legislation and the
18-11    crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
18-12    emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
18-13    constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
18-14    days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.