BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                    C.S.H.B. 2406

                                                                                                                                    By: Hardcastle

                                                                                                                                    County Affairs

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

The Act creating the Gainesville Hospital District (district) was passed by the 64^th Legislature in 1975 and has not been amended since that time.

 

C.S.H.B. 2406 updates amends the legislation to provide for the election of directors for staggered three-year terms and to allow the district to follow Election Code timelines for ordering and publishing notice of district elections. The bill would also adopt meeting attendance requirements for directors and clarify certain outdated provisions. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 2406 amends the enabling legislation to provide that the district to be governed by nine directors elected for staggered three-year terms on the May uniform election date. The bill amends the legislation to allow the removal of a director that fails to attend at least four regular meetings in a 12-month period. The bill deletes the requirement that the board president be the chief executive officer of the district. The bill also removes outdated language. The bill amends the enabling legislation to provide that the board of directors manages, controls and administers the hospital system and funds and resources of the district. The bill authorizes the board the option to pay for the administrator’s bond with district funds and to appoint or dismiss from the medical staff physicians, dentists and podiatrists and specifies that the board shall comply with the due process procedures provided in the Health and Safety Code. The bill clarifies that the district may employ necessary employees. The bill also provides the method for determining how the terms of the board members will be staggered.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

The substitute specifies that the board shall comply with the due process procedures provided by Section 241.101, Health and Safety Code, in granting, renewing, modifying, or revoking medical staff privileges.