By: Zerwas H.B. No. 2559

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to hospital district real property.

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

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds that the entering into the agreements authorized by Health and Safety Code Section 281.050(b) designed to generate revenues for the financial benefit of the district is in furtherance of hospital purposes and serves a public purpose of this state in furthering the benefits to the district and the public welfare of the persons served by the district.

SECTION 2. Section 281.050 Health and Safety Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) to read as follows:

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the board may, with the approval of the commissioners court, enter into a lease [undeveloped real property for not more than 50 years to provide for the development and construction of facilities, a lease] with an option to purchase, an installment purchase agreement, an installment sale agreement or any other form of agreement considered appropriate by the board to provide for the development, construction, improvement, acquisition or management of real property, whether developed or undeveloped designed to generate revenue for the financial benefit of the district. The board, directly or through a nonprofit corporation, may contract or enter into a joint venture with a public or private entity as necessary to enter into any form of agreement determined by the board to be appropriate to generate revenue for the financial benefit of the district [a lease] under this subsection.

SECTION 3. 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.