BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1480
86R7805 JCG-D	By: Hinojosa
	Intergovernmental Relations
	4/1/2019
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Nueces County Hospital District is governed by seven board members who serve staggered three-year terms. The Nueces County Commissioners Court appoints the board of managers and approves the Nueces County Hospital District's annual tax rate and budget. However, all other matters of Nueces County Hospital District governance are the board of managers' responsibility.

 

S.B. 1480 seeks to strengthen the Nueces County Hospital District by instituting board member term limits. Establishing term limits would bring new ideas and fresh perspectives from a diverse group of citizens to the board of managers, while also allowing for more residents to get involved in their local government.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1480 amends current law relating to term limits for the board of hospital managers of the Nueces County Hospital District.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 281.0221, Health and Safety Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 281.0221. TERM LIMIT. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text and makes a nonsubstantive change.

 

(b) Prohibits a member of the board of hospital managers of the Nueces County Hospital District (board) from serving more than four full three-year terms. Provides that the completion of the unexpired portion of a term does not constitute service for a full term for purposes of this subsection.

 

SECTION 2. (a) Provides that Section 281.0221(b), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, does not affect the eligibility of a member serving on the board on the effective date of this Act to continue to serve on the board for the remainder of the member's term. Requires the Nueces County Commissioners Court, as the terms of board members expire, to appoint or reappoint members as necessary to ensure that the composition of the board complies with Section 281.0221(b), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

 

(b) Prohibits the Nueces County Commissioners Court, in making an appointment or reappointment to the board on or after the effective date of this Act, from appointing or reappointing a person to the board if before the effective date of this Act the person has served four full three-year terms on the board, not including the unexpired portion of any term, as prescribed by Section 281.0221(b), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.