HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2490
As Passed House:
February 11, 2004
Title: An act relating to representation on governing body of entity created by public hospital district.
Brief Description: Providing for representation on governing body for public hospital district that joins with another entity.
Sponsors: By Representatives Haigh and Armstrong.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
State Government: 2/3/04 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/11/04, 96-0.
Brief Summary of Bill |
• Makes the participation of Public Hospital District commissioners on the governing body of a joint entity permissive rather than mandatory. |
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Miloscia, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Ranking Minority Member; Shabro, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hunt, McDermott, Nixon, Tom and Wallace.
Staff: Katie Blinn (786-7114).
Background:
Public Hospital Districts (PHD's) are special purpose districts that operate hospitals and provide other health-related services. Commissioners of a PHD are publicly elected officials. A PHD may contract or join with another hospital, a PHD, or other entity to provide health care services or operate health care facilities by forming a nonprofit joint legal entity. The governing body of such a joint entity must include representatives of the PHD, including the PHD commissioners.
Summary of Bill:
If a PHD enters into a joint entity, the governing body of the joint entity must still include representatives of the PHD, but no longer must include the PHD commissioners.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The original legislation passed a few years ago allowing the PHD's to contract with other entities was intended to provide the PHD's more options in providing healthcare services. The current law requires the PHD commissioners to be on the governing body of this joint entity, which can become cumbersome because so many commissioners are involved. The Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts supports the idea of permitting the commissioners to be on the governing body of these joint entities, but wants their involvement to be permissive rather than required.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Haigh, prime sponsor; and Lisa Thatcher, Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.