HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1131

As Reported by House Committee On:

Local Government & Housing

Title:  An act relating to public hospital districts.

Brief Description:  Modifying the powers of public hospital districts.

Sponsors:  Representatives Mulliken, Dunshee, Edwards, G. Chandler, DeBolt, Dunn and Hatfield.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Local Government & Housing:  2/1/01, 2/22/01 [DP].

  Brief Summary of Bill

$Alters the date hospital districts are required to submit their budgets.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT & HOUSING

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Dunshee, Democratic Co‑Chair; Mulliken, Republican Co‑Chair; Edwards, Democratic Vice Chair; Mielke, Republican Vice Chair; Berkey, Crouse, DeBolt, Dunn, Edmonds, Hatfield, Jarrett and Kirby.

Staff:  Scott MacColl (786‑7106).

Background:

Public Hospital Districts are created to own and operate hospitals and other health care facilities for the residents of the district.  There are approximately 50 public hospital districts in 29 counties that operate under this chapter.  Of those districts, 42 have actual hospitals, while eight operate other types of health care facilities.

Public Hospital Districts are required to prepare a proposed budget for the ensuing year and file that budget with the commission on or before September 1 of each year.  Notice of the filing and a hearing date must be published for at least two consecutive weeks in newspapers within the county.  On October 1, the commission shall hold a public hearing on the budget, and by resolution adopt the budget and fix the final expenditures for the ensuing year.

Summary of  Bill:

The date districts are required to submit their budgets has been changed from September 1 to November 1.  Publication requirements are clarified to say that notice of filing and hearing date must be published at least one time each week, for two consecutive weeks.  The October 1 hearing date is also changed to be required on or before November 15.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill moves budget dates to be consistent with the arrival of necessary budgetary information.  Medicare is quite a large chunk of the budget, and the districts don=t have information about how much they will receive in Medicare funding until late October.   Current procedures dictate that the initial budget is passed in September, then re-open and adjusted later when medicare information arrives.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support) Lisa Thatcher, Association of Public Hospital Districts.