Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Local Government Committee |
SB 5116
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning public health district authority as it relates to gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises of real or personal property.
Sponsors: Senators Swecker, Hatfield and Parlette.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/11/11
Staff: Miranda Leskinen (786-7291).
Background:
Public hospital districts are community-created, publicly owned municipal corporations authorized by the state to provide hospital and health care services, such as acute, outpatient, rehabilitative, and nursing home care. A public hospital district may be county-wide or include area from one or more counties within its boundaries. However, the boundaries of the district must follow existing precinct boundaries and may not divide a voting precinct. Each district is governed by a board of elected commissioners (board).
A public hospital district may contract or join with any other public hospital district, hospital, legal entity, or individual to provide hospital or health care services by establishing a nonprofit joint legal entity whose governing body includes representatives of the district.
Public hospital districts generate revenue from the following sources:
private and public insurance;
property taxes;
a tax levy in excess of its regular property tax revenue; and
bonds, warrants, or other revenue obligations.
The board of a public hospital district may also expend its surplus personal and real property, as well as lease its surplus real property, subject to certain requirements.
Summary of Bill:
Public health districts are expressly authorized to solicit and accept gifts of personal or real property, as well as to sell, invest, or expend the proceeds from gifts. Public hospital districts may also contract with organizations, both for-profit and nonprofit, to support these purposes.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.