SRC-VRA H.B. 3371 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 3371 By: Garza (Madla) Intergovernmental Relations 5/17/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE In 1965, the 59th Texas Legislature established the Maverick County Hospital District (district) to deliver health care services to the people of Maverick County. In the enabling act, the legislature set forth all of the guidelines and regulations by which the district was to operate. Health care and its delivery system exist in an environment that changes rapidly. Because of this changing environment, the district is faced with an obligation to deliver services under authority that is no longer adequate to meet the needs of Maverick County. To remedy this situation the board of directors of the district has asked that its enabling statute be modified to improve the district's ability to fulfill its obligation to deliver health care services. H.B. 3371 updates the responsibilities and duties of the Maverick County Hospital District in an effort to protect the district from financial hardship and gives it appropriate authority to efficiently deliver health care services. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 3, Chapter 172, Acts of the 59th Legislature, Regular Session, 1965, to add the word "needy" as a modifier for "residents" in existing text relating to medical care required to be provided by the Maverick County Hospital District. Deletes the words "all necessary" from existing text. SECTION 2. Amends Section 11(n), Chapter 172, Acts of the 59th Legislature, Regular Session, 1965, to authorize the board of directors of the Maverick County Hospital District, based on financial feasibility and the financial resources available to the district, to perform certain tasks. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.