By:  Seliger                                                      S.B. No. 1302
	(In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2005; March 21, 2005, read 
first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental 
Relations; April 25, 2005, reported favorably by the following 
vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 25, 2005, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the Ector County Hospital District.                             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 4.07, Chapter 550, Acts of the 71st 
Legislature, Regular Session, 1989, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 4.07.  BOND; INSURANCE.  (a)  Before assuming the 
duties of the office, each director must execute a bond [for $5,000] 
payable to the district or purchase an appropriate insurance policy 
that names the district as its sole beneficiary, conditioned on the 
faithful performance of the person's duties as director.  For each 
director, the board shall determine the appropriate type and value 
of the bond or insurance policy required under this section.
	(b)  The bond or insurance policy shall be kept in the 
permanent records of the district.
	(c)  The board may pay for directors' bonds and insurance 
policies and premiums with district funds.
	SECTION 2.  Section 5.07, Chapter 550, Acts of the 71st 
Legislature, Regular Session, 1989, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 5.07.  CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS.  (a)  The board may 
enter into construction contracts on behalf of the district; 
however, the board may enter into construction contracts that 
involve spending more than the amount provided by Section 271.024, 
Local Government Code, [$10,000] only after competitive bidding as 
provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 271, Local Government Code.
	(b)  Chapter 2253, Government Code [Article 5160, Revised 
Statutes], as it relates to performance and payment bonds, applies 
to construction contracts let by the district.
	SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 5.15, Chapter 550, Acts of 
the 71st Legislature, Regular Session, 1989, is amended to read as 
follows:
	Sec. 5.15.  AUTHORITY TO SUE AND BE SUED; VENUE; NON-WAIVER 
OF IMMUNITY.
	SECTION 4.  Section 5.15, Chapter 550, Acts of the 71st 
Legislature, Regular Session, 1989, is amended by adding Subsection 
(c) to read as follows:
	(c)  Nothing in this Act may be construed to waive sovereign 
or governmental immunity.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.



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