BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4098

By: Burrows

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that a number of years ago the board of directors of the Lynn County Hospital District requested a change in the district's enabling legislation to remove wording that provided for a district bond election. The change was made and the district can no longer sell bonds for capital improvement. The parties note, however, that with cuts in reimbursements and increased costs for operations the district runs the risk of losing its hospital if the district cannot rely on the citizens to support capital improvement through the selling of bonds. H.B. 4098 seeks to address this issue. 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4098 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to prohibit the Lynn County Hospital District from issuing bonds, except refunding bonds, until authorized by a majority of the qualified property taxpaying electors. The bill requires the order for the bond election to specify the date of the election, the amount of bonds to be authorized, the maximum maturity of the bonds, the maximum rate of interest they are to bear, the place or places where the election shall be held, the presiding judge and alternate judge for each voting place and to provide for clerks as in the county elections. The bill requires notice of certain bond elections to be given as provided by certain law and to be conducted in accordance with the general laws of the state pertaining to general elections except as otherwise provided.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.