AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
As Hidalgo County continues to grow and indigent care costs rise, it is necessary to evaluate the need for a hospital district. Hidalgo County is the largest county in Texas without an operating hospital district, yet it also has the highest percentage of adults lacking health insurance in the entire United States.
S.B. 1920 gives Hidalgo County the flexibility to, in the future, create a hospital district by statute to meet the changing needs of the local residents. It sets up the mechanism to create a hospital district done in the same manner as every other county in Texas.
S.B. 1920 is an issue of local control decided by the local voters to have the flexibility to deal with the challenges of indigent health care.
As proposed, S.B. 1920 amends current law relating to the creation of the Hidalgo County Hospital District, grants the authority to impose a tax and issue bonds, and grants the power of eminent domain.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subtitle A, Title 3, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 1122, as follows:
CHAPTER 1122. HIDALGO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT
Sets forth standard language for the creation of the Hidalgo County Hospital District (district) in Hidalgo County. Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for:
General provisions, including the nature of the district and temporary provisions to confirm the creation of the district by election and to elect five temporary directors and officers (Sections 1122.001-1122.023);
District administration, including the size, composition, election, and terms of the board of directors, general duties of the district administrator and other staff, and benefits for district personnel (Sections 1122.051-1122.065);
Powers and duties of the district (Sections 1122.101-1122.117);
General financial provisions and authority to impose a tax and to issue bonds and obligations for the district (Sections 1122.151-1122.253); and
Dissolution of the district (Sections 1122.301-1122.307).
Authorizes the district to exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire a fee simple or other interest in property located in district territory if the interest is necessary for the district to exercise the rights or authority conferred by this chapter.
SECTION 2. (a) Requires the members of the board of directors of the district elected at the first election held under Section 1122.051, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by this Act, to draw lots to determine which three directors serve a two-year term and which two directors serve a one-year term.
(b) Requires successor directors to serve two-year terms.
SECTION 3. Provides that all requirements of the constitution and the laws of this state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled and accomplished.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.