81R20587 ALB-D
 
  By: Vaught H.J.R. No. 35
 
  Substitute the following for H.J.R. No. 35:
 
  By:  Sheffield C.S.H.J.R. No. 35
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment to allow the Dallas County
  Hospital District to expand its boundaries.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 4, Article IX, Texas Constitution, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 4.  (a) The Legislature may by law authorize the
  creation of county-wide Hospital Districts in counties having a
  population in excess of 190,000 and in Galveston County, with power
  to issue bonds for the purchase, acquisition, construction,
  maintenance and operation of any county owned hospital, or where
  the hospital system is jointly operated by a county and city within
  the county, and to provide for the transfer to the county-wide
  Hospital District of the title to any land, buildings or equipment,
  jointly or separately owned, and for the assumption by the district
  of any outstanding bonded indebtedness theretofore issued by any
  county or city for the establishment of hospitals or hospital
  facilities; to levy a tax not to exceed seventy-five ($.75) cents on
  the One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars valuation of all taxable property
  within such district, provided, however, that such district shall
  be approved at an election held for that purpose, and that only
  qualified voters in such county shall vote therein; provided
  further, that such Hospital District shall assume full
  responsibility for providing medical and hospital care to needy
  inhabitants of the county, and thereafter such county and cities
  therein shall not levy any other tax for hospital purposes; and
  provided further that should such Hospital District construct,
  maintain and support a hospital or hospital system, that the same
  shall never become a charge against the State of Texas, nor shall
  any direct appropriation ever be made by the Legislature for the
  construction, maintenance or improvement of the said hospital or
  hospitals.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section, the
  boundaries of the Dallas County Hospital District may be expanded
  to include territory outside Dallas County if a majority of the
  qualified voters of the district and a majority of the qualified
  voters of the territory to be included in the district approve the
  expansion at separate elections called and held for that purpose.
         SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2009.  
  The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
  proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to allow the Dallas
  County Hospital District to expand its boundaries."