Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4182 Compare Versions

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1	1	84R20126 CJC-D
2	2	By: Lucio III, Oliveira, Longoria H.B. No. 4182
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the creation of the Cameron County Healthcare District;
8	8	granting the authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting the
9	9	power of eminent domain.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Special District Local Laws
12	12	Code, is amended by adding Chapter 1121 to read as follows:
13	13	CHAPTER 1121. CAMERON COUNTY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT
14	14	SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
15	15	Sec. 1121.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
16	16	(1) "Board" means the board of directors of the
17	17	district.
18	18	(2) "Director" means a member of the board.
19	19	(3) "District" means the Cameron County Healthcare
20	20	District.
21	21	Sec. 1121.002. DISTRICT AUTHORIZATION. The Cameron County
22	22	Healthcare District may be created and, if created, operates and is
23	23	financed as a hospital district as provided by Section 9, Article
24	24	IX, Texas Constitution, and by this chapter.
25	25	Sec. 1121.003. ESSENTIAL PUBLIC FUNCTION. The district is
26	26	a public entity performing an essential public function.
27	27	Sec. 1121.004. DISTRICT TERRITORY. The boundaries of the
28	28	district are coextensive with the boundaries of Cameron County.
29	29	Sec. 1121.005. DISTRICT SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE NOT STATE
30	30	OBLIGATION. The state may not be obligated for the support or
31	31	maintenance of the district.
32	32	Sec. 1121.006. RESTRICTION ON STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
33	33	The legislature may not make a direct appropriation for the
34	34	construction, maintenance, or improvement of a district facility.
35	35	SUBCHAPTER A-1. TEMPORARY PROVISIONS
36	36	Sec. 1121.021. CREATION ELECTION; ORDERING ELECTION. (a)
37	37	The district may be created and a tax may be authorized only if the
38	38	creation and the tax are approved by a majority of the registered
39	39	voters of the territory of the proposed district voting at an
40	40	election called and held for that purpose.
41	41	(b) The Cameron County Commissioners Court shall order an
42	42	election for the registered voters of Cameron County on the
43	43	question of creation of the Cameron County Healthcare District if
44	44	the commissioners court receives a petition requesting an election
45	45	that is signed by at least 100 registered voters who are residents
46	46	of Cameron County.
47	47	(c) The order calling an election under this section must
48	48	state:
49	49	(1) the nature of the election, including the
50	50	proposition that is to appear on the ballot;
51	51	(2) the date of the election;
52	52	(3) the hours during which the polls will be open; and
53	53	(4) the location of the polling places.
54	54	(d) Section 41.001(a), Election Code, does not apply to an
55	55	election ordered under this section.
56	56	(e) The Cameron County Commissioners Court shall give
57	57	notice of an election under this section by publishing a
58	58	substantial copy of the election order in a newspaper with general
59	59	circulation in Cameron County once a week for two consecutive
60	60	weeks. The first publication must appear not later than the 30th
61	61	day before the date set for the election.
62	62	(f) The ballot for an election under this section must be
63	63	printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The
64	64	creation of the Cameron County Healthcare District, providing for
65	65	the imposition of an ad valorem tax at a rate determined by the
66	66	board of directors of the district, which rate may not exceed 25
67	67	cents on each $100 valuation of all taxable property in the
68	68	district. District funds shall be used for district purposes,
69	69	including providing medical and hospital care for the needy
70	70	inhabitants of Cameron County, improving health care services for
71	71	inhabitants of Cameron County, supporting the School of Medicine at
72	72	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, training physicians,
73	73	nurses, and other health care professionals, obtaining federal or
74	74	state funds for health care services, and providing community
75	75	health clinics, primary care services, behavioral and mental health
76	76	care services, and prevention and wellness programs."
77	77	(g) The Cameron County Commissioners Court shall find that
78	78	the Cameron County Healthcare District is created if a majority of
79	79	the voters voting in the election held under this section favor the
80	80	creation of the district.
81	81	SUBCHAPTER B. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION
82	82	Sec. 1121.051. DIRECTORS; TERM. (a) If the creation of the
83	83	district is approved at the election held under Section 1121.021,
84	84	the district shall be governed by a board of nine directors,
85	85	appointed as follows:
86	86	(1) the county judge of Cameron County shall appoint
87	87	one director;
88	88	(2) each county commissioner serving on the Cameron
89	89	County Commissioners Court shall appoint one director; and
90	90	(3) the governing bodies of the four municipalities
91	91	located in Cameron County that have the greatest amounts of taxable
92	92	value of property taxable by the district located within their
93	93	corporate boundaries shall each appoint one director.
94	94	(b) Directors serve staggered three-year terms, with three
95	95	directors' terms expiring each year. The initial directors
96	96	appointed under this section shall draw lots as follows to
97	97	determine:
98	98	(1) for the directors appointed by the governing
99	99	bodies of the municipalities in Cameron County described by
100	100	Subsection (a), which director serves a one-year term, which two
101	101	directors serve a two-year term, and which director serves a
102	102	three-year term; and
103	103	(2) for the directors appointed by the Cameron County
104	104	Commissioners Court, including the director appointed by the county
105	105	judge of Cameron County, which two directors serve a one-year term,
106	106	which director serves a two-year term, and which two directors
107	107	serve a three-year term.
108	108	(c) On expiration of the initial directors' terms,
109	109	successor directors shall be appointed for a three-year term by the
110	110	person or governing body that appointed the initial director.
111	111	(d) A director may not serve more than three consecutive
112	112	three-year terms.
113	113	Sec. 1121.052. ELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT TO BOARD. A
114	114	person is not eligible for appointment to the board if the person
115	115	is:
116	116	(1) an employee of Cameron County;
117	117	(2) an employee of a municipality located in the
118	118	district;
119	119	(3) a district employee; or
120	120	(4) related within the third degree of consanguinity
121	121	or affinity, as determined under Subchapter B, Chapter 573,
122	122	Government Code, to a member of the Commissioners Court of Cameron
123	123	County, to a member of the governing body of a municipality located
124	124	in the district, or to a person described by Subdivision (1), (2),
125	125	or (3).
126	126	Sec. 1121.053. OFFICERS. (a) The board shall elect from
127	127	among the directors:
128	128	(1) a chair; and
129	129	(2) a vice chair to preside in the chair's absence.
130	130	(b) The board shall elect a director or the district
131	131	administrator to serve as secretary.
132	132	Sec. 1121.054. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. A director or
133	133	officer serves without compensation but may be reimbursed for
134	134	actual expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.
135	135	The expenses must be:
136	136	(1) reported in the district's records; and
137	137	(2) approved by the board.
138	138	Sec. 1121.055. DIRECTOR'S BOND. (a) Before assuming the
139	139	duties of office, each director must execute a bond in the amount of
140	140	$5,000 payable to the district and conditioned on the faithful
141	141	performance of the director's duties.
142	142	(b) The bond shall be kept in the permanent records of the
143	143	district.
144	144	(c) The board may pay for a director's bond with district
145	145	money.
146	146	Sec. 1121.056. BOARD VACANCY. A vacancy in the office of
147	147	director shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by
148	148	appointment by the person or governing body that appointed the
149	149	vacating director.
150	150	Sec. 1121.057. VOTING REQUIREMENT. A concurrence of a
151	151	majority of the directors voting is necessary in matters relating
152	152	to district business.
153	153	Sec. 1121.058. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR; ADMINISTRATOR'S
154	154	BOND. (a) The board may appoint a qualified person as district
155	155	administrator.
156	156	(b) The district administrator serves at the will of the
157	157	board.
158	158	(c) The district administrator is entitled to compensation
159	159	determined by the board.
160	160	(d) Before assuming the duties of district administrator,
161	161	the administrator must execute a bond payable to the district in an
162	162	amount not less than $5,000, as determined by the board,
163	163	conditioned on the faithful performance of the administrator's
164	164	duties.
165	165	(e) The board may pay for the bond with district money.
166	166	Sec. 1121.059. GENERAL DUTIES OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR.
167	167	Subject to the limitations prescribed by the board, the district
168	168	administrator shall:
169	169	(1) supervise the work and activities of the district;
170	170	and
171	171	(2) direct the general affairs of the district.
172	172	Sec. 1121.060. ASSISTANT DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR; ATTORNEY.
173	173	(a) The board may appoint qualified persons as assistant district
174	174	administrator and attorney for the district.
175	175	(b) The assistant district administrator and attorney for
176	176	the district serve at the will of the board.
177	177	(c) The assistant district administrator and attorney for
178	178	the district are entitled to compensation determined by the board.
179	179	Sec. 1121.061. EMPLOYEES. (a) The district may employ
180	180	nurses, technicians, fiscal agents, accountants, architects,
181	181	additional attorneys, and other necessary employees.
182	182	(b) The board may delegate to the district administrator the
183	183	authority to employ persons for the district.
184	184	Sec. 1121.062. RECRUITMENT OF MEDICAL STAFF AND EMPLOYEES.
185	185	The board may spend district money, enter into agreements, and take
186	186	other necessary actions to recruit physicians and other persons to
187	187	serve as medical staff members or district employees. The actions
188	188	may include:
189	189	(1) advertising and marketing;
190	190	(2) paying travel, recruitment, and relocation
191	191	expenses;
192	192	(3) providing a loan or scholarship to a physician or a
193	193	person currently enrolled in health care education courses at an
194	194	institution of higher education who contracts to become a medical
195	195	staff member or district employee; or
196	196	(4) contracting with a full-time medical student or
197	197	other student in a health occupation who is enrolled in and in good
198	198	standing at an accredited medical school, college, or university to
199	199	pay the student's tuition or other expenses for the consideration
200	200	of the student agreeing to serve as an employee or independent
201	201	contractor for the district.
202	202	Sec. 1121.063. APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF MEDICAL STAFF.
203	203	The board may:
204	204	(1) appoint to the medical staff any doctor the board
205	205	considers necessary for the efficient operation of the district;
206	206	(2) remove any doctor from the medical staff, after
207	207	due process, if the board considers the doctor's removal necessary
208	208	for the efficient operation of the district; and
209	209	(3) make temporary appointments to the medical staff
210	210	as the board considers necessary.
211	211	Sec. 1121.064. RETIREMENT BENEFITS. The board may provide
212	212	retirement benefits for district employees by:
213	213	(1) establishing or administering a retirement
214	214	program; or
215	215	(2) participating in:
216	216	(A) the Texas County and District Retirement
217	217	System; or
218	218	(B) another statewide retirement system in which
219	219	the district is eligible to participate.
220	220	SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
221	221	Sec. 1121.101. DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITY. The district has
222	222	full responsibility for operating the district's hospital
223	223	facilities and providing medical and hospital care for the
224	224	district's needy inhabitants.
225	225	Sec. 1121.102. MANAGEMENT, CONTROL, AND ADMINISTRATION.
226	226	The board shall manage, control, and administer the district and
227	227	the money and resources of the district.
228	228	Sec. 1121.103. RULES. The board may adopt rules governing:
229	229	(1) the operation of the district and any district
230	230	hospital; and
231	231	(2) the duties, functions, and responsibilities of
232	232	district staff and employees.
233	233	Sec. 1121.104. PURCHASING AND ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES. The
234	234	board may prescribe:
235	235	(1) the method of making purchases and expenditures by
236	236	and for the district; and
237	237	(2) accounting and control procedures for the
238	238	district.
239	239	Sec. 1121.105. PROVISION OF CERTAIN HEALTH SERVICES. (a)
240	240	The district may operate or provide for the operation of a mobile
241	241	emergency medical service.
242	242	(b) The district may operate or provide for home health
243	243	services, long-term care, skilled nursing care, intermediate
244	244	nursing care, or hospice care.
245	245	Sec. 1121.106. DISTRICT PROPERTY, FACILITIES, AND
246	246	EQUIPMENT. (a) The board shall determine:
247	247	(1) the type, number, and location of buildings
248	248	required to maintain an adequate health care district; and
249	249	(2) the type of equipment necessary to provide medical
250	250	care in the district.
251	251	(b) The board may:
252	252	(1) acquire property, facilities, and equipment for
253	253	use by the district;
254	254	(2) mortgage or pledge the property, facilities, or
255	255	equipment as security for payment of the purchase price;
256	256	(3) sell or otherwise dispose of property, facilities,
257	257	or equipment for the district; or
258	258	(4) lease hospital facilities for the district.
259	259	Sec. 1121.107. OPERATING AND MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS. The
260	260	board may enter into operating or management contracts relating to
261	261	hospital or other health care facilities for the district.
262	262	Sec. 1121.108. SERVICE CONTRACTS. (a) The board may
263	263	contract with public or private hospitals, clinics, physicians or
264	264	other health care providers, political subdivisions of the state,
265	265	accredited public or private medical schools and their affiliated
266	266	nonprofit entities or faculty practice plans, allied health
267	267	education institutions, or state and federal agencies for the
268	268	district to provide a mobile emergency medical service or other
269	269	medical, hospital, or health care services needed to provide for
270	270	the investigatory, welfare, medical, or health care needs of
271	271	inhabitants of the district.
272	272	(b) The board may contract with a person to receive or
273	273	supply the services the board considers necessary for the effective
274	274	operation of the district.
275	275	Sec. 1121.109. EMINENT DOMAIN. (a) The district may
276	276	exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire a fee simple or
277	277	other interest in property located in district territory if the
278	278	interest is necessary for the district to exercise the rights or
279	279	authority conferred by this chapter.
280	280	(b) The district must exercise the power of eminent domain
281	281	in the manner provided by Chapter 21, Property Code, except that the
282	282	district is not required to deposit with the trial court money or a
283	283	bond as provided by Section 21.021(a), Property Code.
284	284	(c) In a condemnation proceeding brought by the district,
285	285	the district is not required to:
286	286	(1) pay in advance or provide bond or other security
287	287	for costs in the trial court;
288	288	(2) provide bond for the issuance of a temporary
289	289	restraining order or a temporary injunction; or
290	290	(3) provide a bond for costs or a supersedeas bond on
291	291	an appeal or petition for review.
292	292	Sec. 1121.110. COST OF RELOCATING OR ALTERING PROPERTY. In
293	293	exercising the power of eminent domain, if the board requires
294	294	relocating, raising, lowering, rerouting, changing the grade, or
295	295	altering the construction of any railroad, highway, pipeline, or
296	296	electric transmission and electric distribution, telegraph, or
297	297	telephone line, conduit, pole, or facility, the district shall pay
298	298	the actual cost of that activity to provide a comparable
299	299	replacement, without enhancement of facilities, after deducting
300	300	the net salvage value derived from the old facility.
301	301	Sec. 1121.111. GIFTS AND ENDOWMENTS. The board may accept
302	302	for the district a gift or endowment to be held in trust for any
303	303	purpose and under any direction, limitation, or provision in
304	304	writing by the donor that is consistent with the proper management
305	305	of the district.
306	306	Sec. 1121.112. PAYMENT FOR TREATMENT; PROCEDURES. (a)
307	307	When a person who resides in the district is admitted as a patient
308	308	to a district facility or receives medical or hospital care from the
309	309	district, the district administrator may have an inquiry made into
310	310	the financial circumstances of:
311	311	(1) the patient; and
312	312	(2) a relative of the patient who is legally
313	313	responsible for the patient's support.
314	314	(b) To the extent that the patient or a relative of the
315	315	patient who is legally responsible for the patient's support cannot
316	316	pay for care and treatment provided by the district, the district
317	317	shall supply the care and treatment without charging the patient or
318	318	the patient's relative.
319	319	(c) On determining that the patient or a relative legally
320	320	responsible for the patient's support can pay for all or part of the
321	321	care and treatment provided by the district, the district
322	322	administrator shall report that determination to the board, and the
323	323	board shall issue an order directing the patient or the relative to
324	324	pay the district a specified amount each week. The amount must be
325	325	based on the person's ability to pay.
326	326	(d) The district administrator may collect money owed to the
327	327	district from the patient's estate or from that of a relative
328	328	legally responsible for the patient's support in the manner
329	329	provided by law for the collection of expenses in the last illness
330	330	of a deceased person.
331	331	(e) If there is a dispute relating to a person's ability to
332	332	pay or if the district administrator has any doubt concerning a
333	333	person's ability to pay, the board shall call witnesses, hear and
334	334	resolve the question, and issue a final order. The order may be
335	335	appealed to a district court in Cameron County. The substantial
336	336	evidence rule applies to an appeal under this subsection.
337	337	Sec. 1121.113. REIMBURSEMENT FOR SERVICES. (a) If the
338	338	district provides care or treatment to a sick or injured person who
339	339	is not an inhabitant of Cameron County, the board shall require the
340	340	county, municipality, or public hospital located outside of the
341	341	district and in which the person is an inhabitant to reimburse the
342	342	district for the district's care and treatment of that person as
343	343	provided by Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code.
344	344	(b) The board shall require the sheriff of Cameron County to
345	345	reimburse the district for the district's care and treatment of a
346	346	person who is confined in a jail facility of Cameron County and is
347	347	not a resident of the district.
348	348	(c) On behalf of the district, the board may contract with
349	349	the state or federal government for that government to reimburse
350	350	the district for treatment of a sick or injured person.
351	351	Sec. 1121.114. NONPROFIT CORPORATION. (a) The district
352	352	may create and sponsor a nonprofit corporation under the Business
353	353	Organizations Code and may contribute money to or solicit money for
354	354	the corporation.
355	355	(b) A corporation created under this section may use money
356	356	contributed by the district only for a district purpose, including
357	357	the provision of health care or other services the district is
358	358	authorized to provide under this chapter.
359	359	(c) The corporation may invest the corporation's money in
360	360	any manner in which the district may invest the district's money,
361	361	including investing money as authorized by Chapter 2256, Government
362	362	Code.
363	363	(d) The board shall establish controls to ensure that the
364	364	corporation uses its money as required by this section.
365	365	Sec. 1121.115. LOANS AND GRANTS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
366	366	PURPOSES. Under the authority granted by Section 52-a, Article
367	367	III, Texas Constitution, the district may loan or grant money to any
368	368	person for the development of medical education and research in the
369	369	district.
370	370	Sec. 1121.116. AUTHORITY TO SUE AND BE SUED. The board may
371	371	sue and be sued on behalf of the district.
372	372	Sec. 1121.117. CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS; ADVERTISING FOR
373	373	CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS. (a) The board may enter into a
374	374	construction contract on the district's behalf.
375	375	(b) The board may enter into a construction contract only
376	376	after competitive bidding as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 271,
377	377	Local Government Code, if the amount of the contract is greater than
378	378	the amount provided by Section 271.024 of that code.
379	379	SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
380	380	Sec. 1121.151. BUDGET. (a) The board and the district
381	381	administrator shall jointly prepare a proposed annual budget for
382	382	the district.
383	383	(b) The proposed budget must contain a complete financial
384	384	statement, including a statement of:
385	385	(1) the outstanding obligations of the district;
386	386	(2) the amount of cash on hand to the credit of each
387	387	fund of the district;
388	388	(3) the amount of money received by the district from
389	389	all sources during the previous year;
390	390	(4) the amount of money available to the district from
391	391	all sources during the ensuing year;
392	392	(5) the amount of the balances expected at the end of
393	393	the year in which the budget is being prepared;
394	394	(6) the estimated amount of revenues and balances
395	395	available to cover the proposed budget; and
396	396	(7) the estimated tax rate required.
397	397	Sec. 1121.152. NOTICE; HEARING; ADOPTION OF BUDGET. (a)
398	398	The board shall hold a public hearing on the proposed budget.
399	399	(b) The board shall publish notice of the hearing in a
400	400	newspaper with general circulation in the district not later than
401	401	the 10th day before the date of the hearing.
402	402	(c) Any district resident is entitled to be present and
403	403	participate at the hearing.
404	404	(d) At the conclusion of the hearing, the board shall adopt
405	405	a budget by acting on the proposed budget. The board may make a
406	406	change in the proposed budget that the board determines to be in the
407	407	interests of the taxpayers.
408	408	(e) The budget is effective only after adoption by the
409	409	board.
410	410	Sec. 1121.153. AMENDMENT OF BUDGET. After the budget is
411	411	adopted, the budget may be amended if the proposed amendment is
412	412	adopted by the board.
413	413	Sec. 1121.154. FISCAL YEAR. (a) The district operates
414	414	according to a fiscal year established by the board.
415	415	(b) The fiscal year may not be changed:
416	416	(1) during a period in which revenue bonds of the
417	417	district are outstanding; or
418	418	(2) more than once in a 24-month period.
419	419	Sec. 1121.155. ANNUAL AUDIT. The board shall have an annual
420	420	audit made of the financial condition of the district.
421	421	Sec. 1121.156. INSPECTION OF ANNUAL AUDIT AND DISTRICT
422	422	RECORDS. The annual audit and other district records are open to
423	423	inspection during regular business hours at the principal office of
424	424	the district.
425	425	Sec. 1121.157. FINANCIAL REPORT. As soon as practicable
426	426	after the close of each fiscal year, the district administrator
427	427	shall prepare for the board a sworn statement of the amount of
428	428	district money and an account of the disbursement of that money.
429	429	Sec. 1121.158. SHORT-TERM FINANCING. The district may
430	430	borrow money through short-term financing.
431	431	Sec. 1121.159. DEBT LIMITATION. Except as provided by this
432	432	chapter and Chapter 1207, Government Code, the district may not
433	433	incur a debt payable from district revenue other than revenue
434	434	available in the current fiscal year and the immediately following
435	435	fiscal year of the district.
436	436	Sec. 1121.160. DEPOSITORY. (a) The board shall select at
437	437	least one bank to serve as a depository for district money.
438	438	(b) The board may solicit bids from local financial
439	439	institutions to determine which institution may serve as a
440	440	depository for district money.
441	441	(c) District money, other than money invested as provided by
442	442	Section 1121.161 and money transmitted to a bank for payment of
443	443	bonds or obligations issued or assumed by the district, shall be
444	444	deposited as received with the depository bank and shall remain on
445	445	deposit. This subsection does not limit the board's power to place
446	446	part of the district's money on time deposit or to purchase
447	447	certificates of deposit.
448	448	Sec. 1121.161. RESTRICTION ON INVESTMENT. The board may
449	449	invest operating, depreciation, or building reserves only in funds
450	450	or securities specified by Chapter 2256, Government Code.
451	451	SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS
452	452	Sec. 1121.201. GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. If authorized by
453	453	an election, the board may issue and sell general obligation bonds
454	454	in the name and on the faith and credit of the district to:
455	455	(1) purchase, construct, acquire, repair, or renovate
456	456	buildings or improvements;
457	457	(2) equip buildings or improvements for district
458	458	purposes; or
459	459	(3) acquire and operate a mobile emergency medical
460	460	service.
461	461	Sec. 1121.202. TAX TO PAY GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. (a) At
462	462	the time general obligation bonds are issued by the district under
463	463	Section 1121.201, the board shall impose an ad valorem tax in an
464	464	amount sufficient to create an interest and sinking fund to pay the
465	465	principal of and interest on the bonds as the bonds mature.
466	466	(b) The tax required by this section together with any other
467	467	tax the district imposes in any year may not exceed the limit
468	468	approved by the voters at the election authorizing the imposition
469	469	of taxes.
470	470	Sec. 1121.203. GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION. (a) The
471	471	district may issue general obligation bonds only if the bonds are
472	472	authorized by a majority of the voters voting in an election held
473	473	for that purpose.
474	474	(b) The board may order a bond election. The order calling
475	475	the election must specify:
476	476	(1) the nature and date of the election;
477	477	(2) the hours during which the polls will be open;
478	478	(3) the location of polling places;
479	479	(4) the amounts of the bonds to be authorized; and
480	480	(5) the maximum maturity of the bonds.
481	481	(c) Notice of a bond election must be given as provided by
482	482	Chapter 1251, Government Code.
483	483	(d) The board shall declare the results of the election.
484	484	Sec. 1121.204. REVENUE BONDS. (a) The board may issue
485	485	revenue bonds to:
486	486	(1) acquire, purchase, construct, repair, renovate,
487	487	or equip buildings or improvements for district purposes;
488	488	(2) acquire sites to be used for district purposes; or
489	489	(3) acquire and operate a mobile emergency medical
490	490	service to assist the district in carrying out its purposes.
491	491	(b) The bonds must be payable from and secured by a pledge of
492	492	all or part of the revenues derived from the operation of the
493	493	district.
494	494	(c) The bonds may be additionally secured by a mortgage or
495	495	deed of trust lien on all or part of the district property.
496	496	(d) The bonds must be issued in the manner provided by
497	497	Sections 264.042, 264.043, 264.046, 264.047, 264.048, and 264.049,
498	498	Health and Safety Code, for issuance of revenue bonds by county
499	499	hospital authorities.
500	500	Sec. 1121.205. MATURITY. District bonds must mature not
501	501	later than 40 years after the date of their issuance.
502	502	Sec. 1121.206. EXECUTION OF BONDS. (a) The board chair
503	503	shall execute district bonds in the district's name.
504	504	(b) The board secretary shall countersign the bonds in the
505	505	manner provided by Chapter 618, Government Code.
506	506	Sec. 1121.207. BONDS NOT SUBJECT TO TAXATION. The
507	507	following are not subject to taxation by the state or by a political
508	508	subdivision of the state:
509	509	(1) bonds issued by the district;
510	510	(2) any transaction relating to the bonds; and
511	511	(3) profits made in the sale of the bonds.
512	512	SUBCHAPTER F. AD VALOREM TAX
513	513	Sec. 1121.251. IMPOSITION OF AD VALOREM TAX. (a) The board
514	514	shall impose a tax on all property in the district subject to
515	515	taxation by the district.
516	516	(b) The tax may be used to pay:
517	517	(1) indebtedness issued or assumed by the district;
518	518	and
519	519	(2) the maintenance and operating expenses of the
520	520	district.
521	521	(c) The district may not impose a tax to pay the principal of
522	522	or interest on revenue bonds issued under this chapter.
523	523	Sec. 1121.252. LIMITATION ON TAX RATE. (a) The tax rate on
524	524	all taxable property in the district for all purposes may not exceed
525	525	25 cents on each $100 valuation of the property according to the
526	526	most recent certified tax appraisal roll of the district.
527	527	(b) In setting the tax rate, the board shall consider
528	528	district income from sources other than taxation.
529	529	(c) Section 285.231, Health and Safety Code, does not apply
530	530	to the district.
531	531	Sec. 1121.253. REDUCTION IN AD VALOREM TAX RATE BY COUNTY.
532	532	The Cameron County Commissioners Court, in determining the county
533	533	ad valorem tax rate for the first year in which the district imposes
534	534	ad valorem taxes on property in the district, shall:
535	535	(1) take into account the decrease in the amount the
536	536	county will spend for health care purposes in that year because the
537	537	district is providing health care services previously provided or
538	538	paid for by the county; and
539	539	(2) reduce the county's ad valorem tax rate in
540	540	accordance with the decreased amount of required spending described
541	541	by Subdivision (1).
542	542	Sec. 1121.254. RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD TAX PROVISIONS
543	543	APPLICABLE. (a) The board shall ensure that all district residents
544	544	receive all ad valorem tax exemptions and limitations that the
545	545	residents are entitled to receive under the constitution and the
546	546	Tax Code.
547	547	(b) The board shall adopt an exemption from ad valorem
548	548	taxation by the district of a portion of the appraised value of a
549	549	district resident's residence homestead as provided by Section
550	550	11.13(d), Tax Code. Unless the board specifies a larger amount as
551	551	provided by Section 11.13(e), Tax Code, the amount of the exemption
552	552	required to be adopted by the board under this subsection is $3,000
553	553	of the appraised value of a district resident's residence
554	554	homestead. Section 11.13(f), Tax Code, applies to an exemption
555	555	adopted by the board under this subsection.
556	556	Sec. 1121.255. PROHIBITION ON PARTICIPATION IN TAX
557	557	INCREMENT FUND. The district may not enter into an agreement to
558	558	participate in a reinvestment zone designated by a municipality or
559	559	a county under Chapter 311, Tax Code.
560	560	Sec. 1121.256. TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR. The board may
561	561	provide for the appointment of a tax assessor-collector for the
562	562	district or may contract for the assessment and collection of taxes
563	563	as provided by the Tax Code.
564	564	SUBCHAPTER G. DISSOLUTION
565	565	Sec. 1121.301. DISSOLUTION; ELECTION. (a) The district
566	566	may be dissolved only on approval of a majority of the voters voting
567	567	in an election held for that purpose.
568	568	(b) The board may order an election on the question of
569	569	dissolving the district and disposing of the district's assets and
570	570	obligations.
571	571	(c) The board shall order an election if the board receives
572	572	a petition requesting an election that is signed by at least 15
573	573	percent of the district's registered voters.
574	574	(d) The order calling the election must state:
575	575	(1) the nature of the election, including the
576	576	proposition that is to appear on the ballot;
577	577	(2) the date of the election;
578	578	(3) the hours during which the polls will be open; and
579	579	(4) the location of the polling places.
580	580	(e) Section 41.001(a), Election Code, does not apply to an
581	581	election ordered under this section.
582	582	Sec. 1121.302. NOTICE OF ELECTION. (a) The board shall
583	583	give notice of an election under this subchapter by publishing a
584	584	substantial copy of the election order in a newspaper with general
585	585	circulation in the district once a week for two consecutive weeks.
586	586	(b) The first publication must appear not later than the
587	587	30th day before the date set for the election.
588	588	Sec. 1121.303. BALLOT. The ballot for an election under
589	589	this subchapter must be printed to permit voting for or against the
590	590	proposition: "The dissolution of the Cameron County Healthcare
591	591	District."
592	592	Sec. 1121.304. ELECTION RESULTS. (a) If a majority of the
593	593	votes in an election under this subchapter favor dissolution, the
594	594	board shall order that the district be dissolved.
595	595	(b) If a majority of the votes in an election under this
596	596	subchapter do not favor dissolution, the board shall continue to
597	597	administer the district, and another election on the question of
598	598	dissolution may not be held before the first anniversary of the date
599	599	of the most recent election to dissolve the district.
600	600	Sec. 1121.305. TRANSFER OR ADMINISTRATION OF ASSETS. (a)
601	601	If a majority of the votes in an election under this subchapter
602	602	favor dissolution, the board shall:
603	603	(1) transfer the land, buildings, improvements,
604	604	equipment, and other assets belonging to the district to Cameron
605	605	County; or
606	606	(2) administer the property, assets, and debts of the
607	607	district until all money has been disposed of and all district debts
608	608	have been paid or settled.
609	609	(b) If the board makes the transfer under Subsection (a)(1),
610	610	the county assumes all debts and obligations of the district at the
611	611	time of the transfer and the district is dissolved.
612	612	(c) If Subsection (a)(1) does not apply and the board
613	613	administers the property, assets, and debts of the district under
614	614	Subsection (a)(2), the district is dissolved when all money has
615	615	been disposed of and all district debts have been paid or settled.
616	616	Sec. 1121.306. IMPOSITION OF TAX AND RETURN OF SURPLUS
617	617	TAXES. (a) After the board determines that the district is
618	618	dissolved, the board shall:
619	619	(1) determine the debt owed by the district; and
620	620	(2) impose on the property included in the district's
621	621	tax rolls a tax that is in proportion of the debt to the property
622	622	value.
623	623	(b) On the payment of all outstanding debts and obligations
624	624	of the district, the board shall order the secretary to return to
625	625	each district taxpayer the taxpayer's pro rata share of all unused
626	626	tax money.
627	627	(c) A taxpayer may request that the taxpayer's share of
628	628	surplus tax money be credited to the taxpayer's county taxes. If a
629	629	taxpayer requests the credit, the board shall direct the secretary
630	630	to transmit the funds to the tax assessor-collector for Cameron
631	631	County.
632	632	Sec. 1121.307. REPORT; DISSOLUTION ORDER. (a) After the
633	633	district has paid all its debts and has disposed of all its money
634	634	and other assets as prescribed by this subchapter, the board shall
635	635	file a written report with the Cameron County Commissioners Court
636	636	summarizing the board's actions in dissolving the district.
637	637	(b) Not later than the 10th day after the date the Cameron
638	638	County Commissioners Court receives the report and determines that
639	639	the requirements of this subchapter have been fulfilled, the
640	640	commissioners court shall enter an order dissolving the district
641	641	and releasing the board from any further duty or obligation.
642	642	SECTION 2. On the creation of the Cameron County Healthcare
643	643	District, or as soon as practicable after the district is created,
644	644	the Cameron County Commissioners Court shall transfer to the
645	645	district all operating funds, and any funds held in reserve for
646	646	operating expenses, that have been budgeted by the county to pay the
647	647	costs associated with administering a county program to provide to
648	648	residents of the district indigent health care assistance under
649	649	Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code, during the fiscal year in which
650	650	the district is created.
651	651	SECTION 3. Proof of publication of the notice required to
652	652	enact Chapter 1121, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by
653	653	this Act, under the provisions of Section 9, Article IX, Texas
654	654	Constitution, has been made in the manner and form provided by law
655	655	pertaining to the enactment of local and special laws, and the
656	656	notice is found and declared proper and sufficient to satisfy the
657	657	requirement.
658	658	SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
659	659	section, this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of
660	660	two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by
661	661	Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
662	662	(b) If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
663	663	immediate effect:
664	664	(1) this Act takes effect September 1, 2015; and
665	665	(2) Section 1121.109, Special District Local Laws
666	666	Code, as added by this Act, has no effect.