81R4674 ALB-F

By: Estes S.B. No. 1691

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Muenster Hospital District.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 5, Chapter 477, Acts of the 59th Legislature, Regular Session, 1965, is amended by adding Subsections (b-1) and (i) to read as follows:

(b-1) The Board may employ physicians or other health care providers as the Board considers necessary for the efficient operation of the district. This section may not be construed as authorizing the Board to supervise or control the practice of medicine, as prohibited by Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code.

(i) The District may establish a comprehensive program to provide income and medical benefits to a District employee who sustains an injury that arises out of and in the course and scope of employment. If the District adopts a comprehensive program under this subsection, the District is exempt from Section 504.011, Labor Code, to the extent that the section requires the District to provide workers' compensation to its employees.

SECTION 2. Chapter 477, Acts of the 59th Legislature, Regular Session, 1965, is amended by adding Sections 9A and 9B to read as follows:

Sec. 9A. In addition to the authority to issue general obligation bonds and revenue bonds under this Act, the Board may provide for the security and payment of District bonds from a pledge of a combination of ad valorem taxes as authorized by Section 9 of this Act and revenue and other sources authorized by Section 7 of this Act.

Sec. 9B. The District may use the proceeds of bonds issued under this Act to pay:

(1) any expense the Board determines is reasonable and necessary to issue, sell, and deliver the bonds;

(2) interest payments on the bonds during a period of acquisition or construction of a project or facility to be provided through the bonds, not to exceed five years;

(3) costs related to the operation and maintenance of a project or facility to be provided through the bonds:

(A) during an estimated period of acquisition or construction, not to exceed five years; and

(B) for one year after the project or facility is acquired or constructed;

(4) costs related to the financing of the bond funds, including debt service reserve and contingency funds;

(5) costs related to the bond issuance;

(6) costs related to the acquisition of land or interests in land for a project or facility to be provided through the bonds; and

(7) costs of construction of a project or facility to be provided through the bonds, including the payment of related professional services and expenses.

SECTION 3. Section 20a(a), Chapter 477, Acts of the 59th Legislature, Regular Session, 1965, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 20a. (a) The [If the Board of Directors declares that funds are not available to meet the lawfully authorized obligations of the District and that an emergency exists, the] Board may borrow money at a rate not to exceed the maximum annual percentage rate allowed by law for District obligations at the time of the loan.

SECTION 4. Section 20a(d), Chapter 477, Acts of the 59th Legislature, Regular Session, 1965, is repealed.

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, 2009.