81R3800 ALB-F
By: Bonnen H.B. No. 878
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Sweeny Hospital District.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 4, Chapter 135, Acts of the 58th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1963, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 4. The management and control of the [each hospital]
district [created pursuant to the provisions of this Act] is hereby
vested in the board of directors of the district who shall serve
without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual expenses
incurred in the performance of their official duties upon the
approval of such expenses by the entire board of directors.
SECTION 2. Chapter 135, Acts of the 58th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1963, is amended by adding Sections 6A and 6B to
read as follows:
Sec. 6A. In addition to the authority to issue general
obligation bonds and revenue bonds under this Act, 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 6(a)
of this Act and revenue and other sources as authorized by Section
6(e) of this Act.
Sec. 6B. The district may use the proceeds of bonds issued
under this Act 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 operation and maintenance of
a project or facility to be provided through the bonds:
(A) during an estimated period of acquisition or
construction, not to exceed five years; and
(B) for one year after the project or facility is
acquired or constructed;
(4) costs related to the financing of the bond funds,
including debt service reserve and contingency funds;
(5) costs related to the bond issuance;
(6) costs related to the acquisition of land or
interests in land for a project or facility to be provided through
the bonds; and
(7) costs of construction of a project or facility to
be provided through the bonds, including the payment of related
professional services and expenses.
SECTION 3. Section 7, Chapter 135, Acts of the 58th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1963, is amended by adding Subsection
(e) to read as follows:
(e) The district may establish a comprehensive program to
provide income and medical benefits to a district employee who
sustains an injury that arises out of and in the course and scope of
employment. If the district adopts a comprehensive program under
this subsection, the district is exempt from Section 504.011, Labor
Code, to the extent that the section requires the district to
provide workers' compensation to its employees.
SECTION 4. Chapter 135, Acts of the 58th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1963, is amended by adding Section 7B to read as
follows:
Sec. 7B. (a) The board may borrow money at a rate not to
exceed the maximum annual percentage rate allowed by law for
district obligations at the time the loan is made.
(b) To secure a loan, the board may pledge:
(1) district revenue that is not pledged to pay the
district's bonded indebtedness;
(2) a district tax to be imposed by the district during
the 12-month period following the date of the pledge that is not
pledged to pay the principal of or interest on district bonds; or
(3) a district bond that has been authorized but not
sold.
(c) A loan for which taxes or bonds are pledged must mature
not later than the first anniversary of the date the loan is made. A
loan for which district revenue is pledged must mature not later
than the fifth anniversary of the date the loan is made.
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, 2009.