H-897                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 137

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representative Basich

Read first time 1/19/87 and referred to Committee on Health Care.

AN ACT Relating to the administration of public hospitals; and amending RCW 70.44.070, 70.44.080, and 70.44.090.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 7, chapter 264, Laws of 1945 as amended by section 16, chapter 84, Laws of 1982 and RCW 70.44.070 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The public hospital district commission shall appoint a superintendent, who shall be appointed for an indefinite time and be removable at the will of the commission.  Appointments and removals shall be by resolution, introduced at a regular meeting and adopted at a subsequent regular meeting by a majority vote.  ((He)) The superintendent shall receive such compensation as the commission shall fix by resolution.

(2) Where a public hospital district operates more than one hospital, the commission may in its discretion appoint up to one superintendent per hospital and assign among the superintendents the powers and duties set forth in RCW 70.44.080 and 70.44.090 as deemed appropriate by the commission.

        Sec. 2.  Section 9, chapter 264, Laws of 1945 as amended by section 17, chapter 84, Laws of 1982 and RCW 70.44.080 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent shall be the chief administrative officer of the public district hospital and shall have control of administrative functions of the district. ((He)) The superintendent shall be responsible to the commission for the efficient administration of all affairs of the district.  In case of the absence or temporary disability of the superintendent a competent person shall be appointed by the commission.  The superintendent shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the commission and its committees and to take part in the discussion of any matters pertaining to the district, but shall have no vote.

(2) Where the commission has appointed more than one superintendent as provided in section 1 of this 1987 act, the commission shall assign among the superintendents the powers set forth in this section as deemed appropriate by the commission.

        Sec. 3.  Section 11, chapter 264, Laws of 1945 as amended by section 18, chapter 84, Laws of 1982 and RCW 70.44.090 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The public hospital district superintendent shall have the power, and ((it shall be his)) duty:

          (((1))) (a) To carry out the orders of the commission, and to see that all the laws of the state pertaining to matters within the functions of the district are duly enforced.

          (((2))) (b) To keep the commission fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the district.  To prepare, each year, an estimate for the ensuing fiscal year of the probable expenses of the district, and to recommend to the commission what development work should be undertaken, and what extensions and additions, if any, should be made, during the ensuing fiscal year, with an estimate of the costs of such development work, extensions and additions.  To certify to the commission all the bills, allowances and payrolls, including claims due contractors of public works.  To recommend to the commission a range of salaries to be paid to district employees.

(2) Where the commission has appointed more than one superintendent as provided in section 1 of this 1987 act, the commission shall assign among the superintendents the duties set forth in this section as deemed appropriate by the commission.