84R6265 CJC-F
 
  By: Flynn H.B. No. 797
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Hunt Memorial Hospital District; authorizing the
  issuance of bonds.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1044.052, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 1044.052.  NOTICE OF ELECTION. Notice [At least 10 days
  before the date] of an election of directors[, notice of the
  election] shall be published in accordance with Section 4.003,
  Election Code, [at least one time] in a newspaper of general
  circulation in the district.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1044.053, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 1044.053.  BALLOT APPLICATION [PETITION]. A person who
  wants to have the person's name printed on the ballot as a candidate
  for director must file with the board secretary an application in
  accordance with Chapter 144, Election Code [a petition requesting
  that action.   The petition must:
               [(1)     be signed by at least 25 registered voters who
  reside in the district;
               [(2)     be filed at least 31 days before the date of the
  election; and
               [(3)     specify the county commissioners precinct the
  candidate wants to represent or specify that the candidate wants to
  represent the district at large].
         SECTION 3.  Section 1044.103, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 1044.103.  MEDICAL FACILITIES; LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It
  is the intent of the legislature that the people of Hunt County be
  provided with the best and most modern health care available.  To
  achieve that intent, the district may locate [provide] a medical or
  related facility in the city of Commerce, [and] in another area
  [other areas] of Hunt County, or in another county if the board
  finds that providing a facility is feasible and in the best interest
  of district residents.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter E, Chapter 1044, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Sections 1044.206, 1044.207,
  1044.208, and 1044.209 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1044.206.  REVENUE BONDS.  (a)  The board may issue
  revenue bonds to:
               (1)  acquire, purchase, construct, repair, renovate,
  or equip buildings or improvements for hospital purposes; or
               (2)  acquire sites to be used for hospital purposes.
         (b)  The bonds must be payable from and secured by a pledge of
  all or part of the revenues derived from the operation of the
  district's hospital system, including district facilities.
         (c)  The bonds may be additionally secured by a mortgage or
  deed of trust lien on all or part of the district property.
         (d)  The bonds must be issued in the manner and in accordance
  with the procedures and requirements prescribed by Sections
  264.042, 264.043, 264.046, 264.047, 264.048, and 264.049, Health
  and Safety Code, for issuance of revenue bonds by county hospital
  authorities.
         Sec. 1044.207.  REFUNDING BONDS.  (a) The board may issue
  refunding bonds to refund outstanding indebtedness issued or
  assumed by the district.
         (b)  A refunding bond may be:
               (1)  sold, with the proceeds of the refunding bond
  applied to the payment of the outstanding indebtedness; or
               (2)  exchanged wholly or partly for not less than a
  similar principal amount of outstanding indebtedness.
         Sec. 1044.208.  ADDITIONAL MEANS OF SECURING REPAYMENT OF
  BONDS. In addition to the authority to issue general obligation
  bonds and revenue bonds under this subchapter, 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
  1044.202 and revenue and other sources authorized by Section
  1044.206.
         Sec. 1044.209.  USE OF BOND PROCEEDS. The district may use
  the proceeds of bonds issued under this subchapter 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 financing of the bond funds,
  including debt service reserve and contingency funds;
               (4)  costs related to the bond issuance;
               (5)  costs related to the acquisition of land or
  interests in land for a project or facility to be provided through
  the bonds; and
               (6)  costs of construction of a project or facility to
  be provided through the bonds, including the payment of related
  professional services and expenses.
         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, 2015.