By Chisum                                             H.B. No. 2488
         77R8304 YDB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the powers and duties of the Donley County Hospital
 1-3     District.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Chapter 699, Acts of the 61st Legislature, Regular
 1-6     Session, 1969, is amended by amending Sections 7 and 8 and adding
 1-7     Section 24 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 7.  In addition to the power to issue bonds payable from
 1-9     taxes levied by the district, as contemplated by the preceding
1-10     section, the board of directors is further authorized to issue
1-11     revenue bonds for the purpose of refunding [and to refund] any
1-12     previously issued revenue bonds and to issue revenue bonds for the
1-13     purpose of purchasing, constructing, acquiring, repairing,
1-14     equipping, or renovating buildings and improvements for the
1-15     district's facilities for the district's hospital system [hospital
1-16     purposes], and for acquiring sites therefor, such bonds to be
1-17     payable from and secured by a pledge of all or any part of the
1-18     revenues of the district to be derived from the operation of its
1-19     hospital or hospitals, and such bonds may be additionally secured
1-20     by a mortgage or deed of trust lien on any part or all of its
1-21     properties.  Such bonds shall be issued in the manner and in
1-22     accordance with the procedures and requirements specified for the
1-23     issuance of revenue bonds by county hospital authorities in
1-24     Sections 264.042, 264.043, 264.046, 264.047, 264.048, and 264.049,
 2-1     Health and Safety Code [8, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of Chapter 122, Acts
 2-2     of the 58th Legislature, 1963 (Article 4494r, Vernon's Texas Civil
 2-3     Statutes)].
 2-4           Sec. 8.  The board of directors is hereby given complete
 2-5     discretion as to the type of buildings, both as to number and
 2-6     location, required to establish and maintain an adequate hospital
 2-7     system.  The hospital system, as determined by the board of
 2-8     directors, may include facilities for domiciliary care of the sick,
 2-9     wounded, and injured, facilities for outpatient clinic or clinics,
2-10     dispensaries, facilities for geriatric domiciliary care,
2-11     convalescent home facilities, necessary nurses centers,
2-12     [domiciliaries and training centers, blood banks, community mental
2-13     health centers, and] research centers or laboratories, nursing
2-14     homes or similar facilities for the care of the elderly, and any
2-15     other facilities deemed necessary for hospital care by the
2-16     directors.  The district, through its board of directors, is
2-17     further authorized to enter into an operating or management
2-18     contract with regard to its facilities or a part thereof, or may
2-19     lease or contract with the Texas Department of Human Services to
2-20     lease all or part of its buildings and facilities upon terms and
2-21     conditions considered to be the best interest of its inhabitants,
2-22     provided that in no event shall any lease be for a period in excess
2-23     of 25 years from the date entered.  The district shall be empowered
2-24     to sell or otherwise dispose of any property, real or personal, or
2-25     equipment of any nature upon terms and conditions found by the
2-26     board to be in the best interest of its inhabitants.
2-27           Sec. 24.  All proceedings, resolutions, orders, and other
 3-1     acts or attempted acts of the district in the issuance of notes,
 3-2     and all proceedings of the district authorizing the issuance,
 3-3     execution, and delivery of notes and other obligations of the
 3-4     district are validated in all respects and are valid as though the
 3-5     notes had been originally and duly authorized, accomplished,
 3-6     validated, ratified, approved, and confirmed.
 3-7           SECTION 2.  This Act does not apply to any matter involved in
 3-8     litigation on the effective date of this Act if the litigation
 3-9     ultimately results in the matter being held invalid in a final
3-10     judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
3-11           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-12     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-13     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
3-14     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-15     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.