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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of funds of certain municipal hospital |
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authorities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 262, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Sections 262.0331 and 262.039 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 262.0331. EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH |
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INITIATIVES AFTER SALE OR CLOSING OF HOSPITAL. (a) If, after the |
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sale or closing of a hospital under Section 262.033, the authority |
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does not own or operate a hospital, the board may use the |
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authority's available assets to promote public health and general |
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welfare initiatives that the board determines will benefit the |
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residents served by the authority, including: |
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(1) owning, operating, or funding an indigent health |
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care clinic, medical research facility, medical training facility, |
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or other health care facility; |
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(2) providing direct or indirect financial assistance |
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to a nonprofit organization that: |
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(A) owns or operates a hospital, indigent health |
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care clinic, medical research facility, medical training facility, |
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or other health care facility; or |
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(B) supports an initiative promoting health |
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education, wellness, or disease prevention; and |
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(3) undertaking any other activity that the board |
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determines is necessary or appropriate to improve public health, |
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promote wellness, prevent disease, or enhance the general welfare |
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of the residents served by the authority. |
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(b) The board may not make an expenditure under Subsection |
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(a) unless: |
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(1) the board makes appropriate provisions for the |
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satisfaction of any outstanding bonds, debt obligations, or other |
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liabilities of the authority; |
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(2) the predominant purpose of the expenditure is to |
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promote the public health and general welfare of the residents |
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served by the authority; and |
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(3) the board establishes sufficient controls to |
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ensure that the expenditure promotes the public health and general |
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welfare of the residents served by the authority. |
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Sec. 262.039. INVESTMENT OF AUTHORITY FUNDS. (a) This |
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section applies only to an authority that: |
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(1) is located in a county of 3.3 million or more; |
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(2) has no outstanding bonds issued under Subchapter |
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D; and |
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(3) does not own or operate a hospital. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, an authority may invest |
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authority funds: |
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(1) as provided by Chapter 2256, Government Code; and |
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(2) in any investment a trustee is authorized to make |
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under Subtitle B, Title 9, Property Code. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |