BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1549
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, each county or hospital district is required to contribute to a health services district with which it contracts a certain percentage of the contracting entity's general revenue levy. A change in this provision may provide greater flexibility to counties in contributing funds to a health services district. Additionally, accountability and representation in a health services district may be improved by authorizing county commissioners to make director appointments to a health service district and to provide for the removal of chronically absent directors.
As proposed, S.B. 1549 requires each county or hospital district to contribute a specified dollar amount that is equal to or greater than the amount the county would have to spend during the state fiscal year to be eligible for state assistance under Section 61.037 (County Eligibility for State Assistance). This bill authorizes the commissioners court of a county, rather than county judges, to appoint directors to a health services district board. This bill authorizes the removal of a director from the board for excessive absences under certain circumstances.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 287.024(a), Health and Safety Code, to require each county or hospital district that contracts with a health services district to contribute to that health services district a specified dollar amount that is equal to or greater than the amount the county would have to spend regarding indigent care during that state fiscal year to be eligible for state assistance under Section 61.037 (County Eligibility for State Assistance), Health and Safety Code, rather than a specified percentage of the contracting entity's general revenue levy, not less than the percentage required for state assistance under Section 61.037, Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 287.041(c), Health and Safety Code, to require the commissioners court, rather than the county judges, of a county to appoint the board directors for a health services district.
SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 287, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 287.054, as follows:
Sec. 287.054. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. Provides that it is a ground for removal of a director from the board if the director is absent from four regularly scheduled board meetings during a calendar year without an excuse approved by a majority of the board.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2007.