BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4569

By: Landgraf

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that because of a complex history with preclearance the statutes for the Ector County Hospital District do not reflect the actual composition of the board or how the directors are elected. Additionally, it has been suggested that it would be beneficial for the district to have a mechanism available if needed to remove a director for failure to attend board meetings. H.B. 4569 seeks to address these issues by revising provisions relating to the district.

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. 4569 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to change the year in which a directors' election of the Ector County Hospital District is to be held from each even-numbered year to each odd-numbered year. The bill repeals a provision that provides for the election of one director from each commissioners precinct and three directors from the district at large and instead provides for all of the directors to be elected from single-member districts. The bill establishes as a ground for removal from the board that a director is absent from more than half of the regularly scheduled board meetings that the director is eligible to attend in any 12-month period without an excuse approved by a majority vote of the board. The bill provides for the procedures to be used in the removal of the director. The bill establishes that the validity of a board action is not affected by the fact that the action is taken when a ground for removal of a director exists.

H.B. 4569 provides for the validation and confirmation of certain district actions and proceedings taken before the bill's effective date.

H.B. 4569 repeals Section 1024.051(b), Special District Local Laws Code. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.