By: Craddick, Morales of Maverick H.B. No. 492
        (Senate Sponsor - Sparks)
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 12, 2023;
  April 13, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
  Human Services; May 8, 2023, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 8, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
 
  COMMITTEE VOTE
 
 
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation and operation of a mental health services
  district by the Midland County Hospital District of Midland County,
  Texas, and the Ector County Hospital District.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 579 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 579. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DISTRICTS CREATED BY CERTAIN
  HOSPITAL DISTRICTS
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 579.001.  PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to
  authorize certain hospital districts to create a special district
  to provide mental health services to the residents of the district.
         Sec. 579.002.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Board" means the board of directors of a
  district.
               (2)  "Director" means a member of the board.
               (3)  "District" means a mental health services district
  created by a hospital district under this chapter.
               (4)  "Hospital district" means a hospital district
  created under the authority of Sections 4-11, Article IX, Texas
  Constitution.
         Sec. 579.003.  APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to
  the:
               (1)  Midland County Hospital District of Midland
  County, Texas; and
               (2)  Ector County Hospital District.
  SUBCHAPTER B. CREATION AND DISSOLUTION OF DISTRICT
         Sec. 579.051.  CREATION BY CONCURRENT ORDERS. (a) The
  hospital districts to which this chapter applies may create a
  district by adopting concurrent orders.
         (b)  A concurrent order to create a district must:
               (1)  be approved by the governing body of each creating
  hospital district;
               (2)  contain identical provisions; and
               (3)  define the boundaries of the district to be
  coextensive with the combined boundaries of each creating hospital
  district.
         Sec. 579.052.  CONTRACT TERMS. (a) Each creating hospital
  district shall contract with the district for the district to
  provide mental health services to the hospital district's
  residents. The contract must:
               (1)  state the term of the contract;
               (2)  specify the purpose, terms, rights, and duties of
  the district, as authorized by this chapter;
               (3)  specify the financial contributions to be made by
  each party to the contract to fund the district; and
               (4)  specify the land, buildings, improvements,
  equipment, and other assets owned by a party to the contract that
  the district will be required to manage and operate, if any.
         (b)  Chapter 791, Government Code, does not apply to a
  contract made under this chapter.
         Sec. 579.053.  DISSOLUTION. A district shall be dissolved
  if the creating hospital districts adopt concurrent orders to
  dissolve the district and the concurrent orders contain identical
  provisions.
         Sec. 579.054.  ADMINISTRATION OF PROPERTY, DEBTS, AND ASSETS
  AFTER DISSOLUTION. (a) After dissolution of a district under
  Section 579.053, the board shall continue to control and administer
  any property, debts, and assets of the district until all funds have
  been disposed of and all district debts have been paid or settled.
         (b)  If, after administering any property and assets, the
  board determines that the district's property and assets are
  insufficient to pay the debts of the district, the district shall
  transfer the remaining debts to the creating hospital districts in
  proportion to the funds contributed to the district by each
  hospital district.
         (c)  If, after complying with Subsection (b) and
  administering the property and assets, the board determines that
  unused funds remain, the board shall transfer the unused funds to
  the creating hospital districts in proportion to the funds
  contributed to the district by each hospital district.
         Sec. 579.055.  ACCOUNTING AFTER DISSOLUTION. After the
  district has paid all its debts and has disposed of all its assets
  and funds as prescribed by Section 579.054, the board shall provide
  an accounting to each creating hospital district.  The accounting
  must show the manner in which the assets and debts of the district
  were distributed.
  SUBCHAPTER C. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
         Sec. 579.101.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS; TERMS; VACANCY. (a) The
  board consists of six appointed directors. Each creating hospital
  district shall appoint three directors to the board.
         (b)  Directors serve staggered two-year terms, with one-half
  of the directors' terms expiring each year.
         (c)  A vacancy in the office of director shall be filled for
  the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
         Sec. 579.102.  OFFICERS. (a)  The board shall elect from
  among its members a president.
         (b)  The board shall appoint a secretary, who need not be a
  director.
         (c)  Each officer of the board serves for a term of one year.
         (d)  The board shall fill a vacancy in a board office for the
  unexpired term.
         Sec. 579.103.  QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE. (a) To be
  eligible to serve as a director, a person must be a resident or an
  officer of the hospital district that appoints the person under
  Section 579.101.
         (b)  An employee of the district may not serve as a director.
         Sec. 579.104.  COMPENSATION. (a) Directors and officers
  serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual
  expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.
         (b)  Expenses reimbursed under this section must be:
               (1)  reported in the district's minute book or other
  district records; and
               (2)  approved by the board.
  SUBCHAPTER D. POWERS AND DUTIES
         Sec. 579.151.  TRANSFER OF CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF
  CREATING HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  On creation of a district, each
  creating hospital district may transfer to the district:
               (1)  management and operation of any real property,
  improvements, and equipment located wholly in the district that are
  owned by the creating hospital district and are used to provide
  mental health services, as specified in the contract under Section
  579.052; and
               (2)  operating funds and reserves for operating
  expenses and funds that have been budgeted by the creating hospital
  district to provide mental health services for residents of the
  district, as specified in the contract under Section 579.052.
         Sec. 579.152.  POWERS AND DUTIES. A  district may, if
  necessary to provide mental health services to the residents of the
  creating hospital districts:
               (1)  acquire and hold title to, construct, operate,
  manage, and maintain real property, including improvements to real
  property;
               (2)  acquire, operate, manage, and maintain equipment
  and other personal property;
               (3)  enter into and perform contracts;
               (4)  appoint and employ officers, agents, and
  employees;
               (5)  sue and be sued;
               (6)  seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations; and
               (7)  perform other acts necessary to accomplish the
  purpose of the district.
         Sec. 579.153.  RULES. The board may adopt rules governing
  the operation of the district and the duties, functions, and
  responsibilities of the district's staff and employees.
         Sec. 579.154.  DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR; ASSISTANT
  ADMINISTRATOR. (a) The board shall appoint a qualified person as
  district administrator.
         (b)  The board may appoint assistant administrators.
         (c)  The district administrator and any assistant
  administrator serve at the will of the board and are entitled to the
  compensation determined by the board.
  SUBCHAPTER E. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 579.201.  DISTRICT FUNDING; LIMITATION.  (a)  Each
  creating hospital district shall provide funding for the district's
  operation as specified in the contract under Section 579.052.
         (b)  The district may not impose a tax or issue bonds or other
  obligations.
         Sec. 579.202.  BUDGET. (a) The district administrator shall
  prepare an annual budget for approval by the board.
         (b)  The proposed budget must contain a complete financial
  statement of:
               (1)  the outstanding obligations of the district;
               (2)  the cash on hand in each district fund;
               (3)  the money received by the district from all
  sources during the previous year;
               (4)  the money available to the district from all
  sources during the ensuing year;
               (5)  the balances expected at the end of the year in
  which the budget is being prepared;
               (6)  the estimated revenue and balances available to
  cover the proposed budget; and
               (7)  the proposed expenditures and disbursements and
  the estimated receipts and collections for the following fiscal
  year.
         (c)  The board shall provide in each annual budget for the
  payment of all operation and maintenance expenses of the district.
         Sec. 579.203.  NOTICE; HEARING; ADOPTION OF BUDGET. (a) The
  board shall hold a public hearing on the proposed annual budget.
         (b)  At least 10 days before the date of the hearing, the
  board shall publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general
  circulation in the district.
         (c)  Any resident of the district is entitled to be present
  and participate at the hearing.
         (d)  At the conclusion of the hearing, the board shall adopt
  a budget by acting on the budget proposed by the district
  administrator.  The board may make any changes in the proposed
  budget that the board judges to be in the interest of the district's
  residents and that the law warrants.
         (e)  The budget is effective only after adoption by the
  board.
         Sec. 579.204.  AMENDMENTS TO BUDGET. The budget may be
  amended as required by circumstances.  The board must approve all
  amendments.
         Sec. 579.205.  RESTRICTION ON EXPENDITURES. Money may be
  spent only for an expense included in the budget or an amendment to
  the budget.
         Sec. 579.206.  FISCAL YEAR. The district operates according
  to a fiscal year that begins on October 1 and ends on September 30.
  The board may change the fiscal year.
         Sec. 579.207.  AUDIT. The board shall have an independent
  audit made of the district's financial condition for each fiscal
  year.
         Sec. 579.208.  INSPECTION OF AUDIT AND DISTRICT RECORDS.
  The audit and other district records shall be open to inspection at
  the principal office of each creating hospital district.
         Sec. 579.209.  FINANCIAL REPORT. As soon as practicable
  after the close of each fiscal year, the district administrator
  shall prepare for the board:
               (1)  a complete sworn statement of all district money;
  and
               (2)  a complete account of the disbursements of that
  money.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 1024, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 1024.118 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 1024.118.  MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. (a) The district
  may provide mental health services, including by contract in the
  manner prescribed by Chapter 579, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  The district's provision of mental health services does
  not prohibit another political subdivision of this state from
  providing, or taxing to provide for, mental health services inside
  the boundaries of the district, as provided by Section 13, Article
  IX, Texas Constitution.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter C, Chapter 1061, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 1061.122 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 1061.122.  MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. (a) The district
  may provide mental health services, including by contract in the
  manner prescribed by Chapter 579, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  The district's provision of mental health services does
  not prohibit another political subdivision of this state from
  providing, or taxing to provide for, mental health services inside
  the boundaries of the district, as provided by Section 13, Article
  IX, Texas Constitution.
         SECTION 4.  In making the initial appointment of directors
  under Section 579.101, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act,
  the creating hospital districts shall jointly determine which three
  directors serve one-year terms and which three directors serve
  two-year terms. Thereafter, all directors appointed under Section
  579.101, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, are appointed
  to serve two-year terms.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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