BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2584
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Kimble County Hospital District (district) was authorized and created by Acts of the 62nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1971, under authority set out in the Texas Constitution. The district was charged with the responsibility of establishing a hospital and hospital system within its boundaries and to furnish a hospital and medical care to the residents of the district. During the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, at the request of the district's board of directors, the enabling legislation was reviewed, updated, and amended. However, since the enactment, the current board of directors have requested additional changes to the enabling legislation.
H.B. 2584 allows for broader operations by the Kimble County Hospital District similar to the powers granted to other hospital districts.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 5(f), Chapter 873, Acts of the 62nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1971, to require an election to be held, each year on the uniform election date prescribed by Section 41.001 (Uniform Election Dates), Election Code, rather than on the first Saturday in May, for the purpose of electing the appropriate number of directors to the board [of the Kimble County Hospital District].
SECTION 2. Amends Section 8(e), Chapter 873, Acts of the 62nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1971, to entitle the assessor and collector to a reasonable fee that is agreed to by the Kimble County Hospital District (district) as compensation for the person's, rather than his, services. Deletes existing text relating to the amount of the compensation fee.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 12(g), Chapter 873, Acts of the 62nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1971, to authorize the board of directors of the district (board) to enter into a, rather than any, contract with any other public or private entity, including the federal government, this state, a municipality, or any other political subdivision, or a charitable organization, to provide health care or related services inside or outside the district. Deletes existing text regarding to whom the board is authorized to provide services.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 14(c), Chapter 873, Acts of the 62nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1971, to require the board, if the patient or a relative of the patient who is legally liable for the patient's support is able to pay for the patient's care in whole or in part, to order the patient or the patient's relatives to pay to the district, rather than the treasurer, each week an amount specified in the order. Requires the board to send a billing statement charging the amount specified in the order to the person ordered to pay for the patient's care.
SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.