By: Springer (Senate Sponsor - Perry) H.B. No. 795
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 20, 2015;
April 30, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on
Intergovernmental Relations; May 11, 2015, reported favorably by
the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 11, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Haskell County Hospital District; authorizing the
issuance of bonds.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1040.052, Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1040.052. QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE. (a) A person may
not be appointed as a director unless the person[:
[(1)] is a district resident[; and
[(2) owns land in the district subject to taxation].
(b) A person may not be appointed as a director if the person
is:
(1) a district employee; or
(2) an employee of Haskell County.
SECTION 2. Section 1040.152(c), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(c) Any district resident [taxpayer] is entitled to:
(1) appear at the time and place designated in the
notice; and
(2) be heard regarding any item included in the
proposed budget.
SECTION 3. Section 1040.153, Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1040.153. FISCAL YEAR. The district operates on a
fiscal year established by the board [that begins on October 1 and
ends on September 30].
SECTION 4. Section 1040.154(b), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The audit shall be open to inspection during regular
business hours [Not later than December 31 each year, the audit
shall be filed:
[(1) with the comptroller; and
[(2)] at the district's principal [district] office.
SECTION 5. Section 1040.155(a), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The board by resolution shall designate a bank or banks
[in Haskell County] as the district's depository [or treasurer. A
designated bank serves for two years and until a successor is
designated].
SECTION 6. Subchapter E, Chapter 1040, Special District
Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Sections 1040.207, 1040.208,
and 1040.209 to read as follows:
Sec. 1040.207. REVENUE BONDS. (a) The board may issue
revenue bonds to:
(1) purchase, construct, acquire, repair, renovate,
or equip buildings or improvements for hospitals and the hospital
system; or
(2) acquire sites to be used for hospital purposes.
(b) The bonds must be payable from and secured by a pledge of
all or part of the revenue derived from the operation of the
district's hospital system.
(c) The bonds may be additionally secured by a mortgage or
deed of trust on all or part of the district's property.
(d) The bonds must be issued in the manner and in accordance
with the procedures and requirements prescribed by Sections
264.042, 264.043, 264.046, 264.047, 264.048, and 264.049, Health
and Safety Code, for issuance of revenue bonds by a county hospital
authority.
Sec. 1040.208. ADDITIONAL MEANS OF SECURING REPAYMENT OF
BONDS. In addition to the authority to issue general obligation
bonds and revenue bonds under this subchapter, 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
1040.202 and revenue and other sources as authorized by Section
1040.207.
Sec. 1040.209. USE OF BOND PROCEEDS. The district may use
the proceeds of bonds issued under this subchapter 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) construction costs of a project or facility to be
provided through the bonds, including the payment of related
professional services and expenses.
SECTION 7. Section 1040.053(b), Special District Local Laws
Code, is repealed.
SECTION 8. 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, 2015.
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