SECOND REGULAR SESSION

[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]

SENATE BILL NO. 676

88TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1996

S2720.01T


AN ACT

To repeal sections 96.196, 205.160, 205.190, 206.110 and 206.157, RSMo 1994, relating to the powers of governmental hospitals to offer, and to enact five new sections relating to the same subject.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Sections 96.196, 205.160, 205.190, 206.110 and 206.157, RSMo 1994, are repealed and five new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 96.196, 205.160, 205.190, 206.110 and 206.157, to read as follows:

96.196. 1. A hospital organized under this chapter may purchase, operate or lease, as lessor or lessee, related [adjacent compatible] facilities or engage in health care activities, except in counties of the third or fourth classification (other than the county in which the hospital is located) where there already exists a hospital organized pursuant to chapters 96, 205 or 206, RSMo; provided, however, that this exception shall not prohibit the continuation of existing activities otherwise allowed by law.

2. If a hospital organized pursuant to this chapter accepts appropriated funds from the city during the twelve months immediately preceding the date that the hospital purchases, operates or leases it first related facility outside the city boundaries or engages in its first health care activity outside the city boundaries, the governing body of the city shall approve the hospital's plan for such purchase, operation or lease prior to implementation of the plan.

205.160. The county commissions of the several counties of this state, both within and outside such counties, except in counties of the third or fourth classification (other than the county in which the hospital is located) where there already exists a hospital organized pursuant to chapters 96, 205 or 206, RSMo; provided, however, that this exception shall not prohibit the continuation of existing activities otherwise allowed by law, are hereby authorized, as provided in sections 205.160 to 205.340, to establish, construct, equip, improve, extend, repair and maintain public hospitals and engage in health care activities, and may issue bonds therefor as authorized by the general law governing the incurring of indebtedness by counties.

205.190. 1. The trustees shall, within ten days after their appointment or election, qualify by taking the oath of civil officers and organize as a board of hospital trustees by the election of one of their number as chairman, one as secretary, one as treasurer, and by the election of such other officers as they may deem necessary.

2. No trustee shall receive any compensation for his services performed, but he may receive reimbursement for any cash expenditures actually made for personal expenses incurred as such trustee, and an itemized statement of all such expenses and money paid out shall be made under oath by each of such trustees and filed with the secretary and allowed only by the affirmative vote of all of the trustees present at a meeting of the board.

3. The board of hospital trustees shall make and adopt such bylaws, rules and regulations for its own guidance and for the government of the hospital as may be deemed expedient for the economic and equitable conduct thereof, not inconsistent with sections 205.160 to 205.340 and the ordinances of the city or town wherein such public hospital is located. The board shall provide by regulation for the bonding of the chief executive officer and may require a bond of the treasurer of the board and of any employee of the hospital as it deems necessary. The costs of all bonds required shall be paid out of the hospital fund. It shall have the exclusive control of the deposit, investment, and expenditure of all moneys collected to the credit of the hospital fund, and of the purchase of site or sites, the purchase or construction of any hospital buildings, and of the supervision, care and custody of the grounds, rooms or buildings purchased, constructed, leased or set apart for that purpose; provided, that all moneys received for such hospital shall be credited to the hospital and deposited into the depositary thereof for the sole use of such hospital in accordance with the provisions of sections 205.160 to 205.340. All funds received by each such hospital shall be paid out only upon warrants ordered drawn by the treasurer of the board of trustees of said county upon the properly authenticated vouchers of the hospital board.

4. The trustees shall have authority, both within and outside the county, except in counties of the third or fourth classification (other than the county in which the hospital is located) where there already exists a hospital organized pursuant to chapters 96, 205 or 206, RSMo; provided, however, that this exception shall not prohibit the continuation of existing activities otherwise allowed by law, to operate, maintain and manage a hospital and hospital facilities, and to make and enter into contracts, for the use, operation or management of a hospital or hospital facilities; to engage in health care activities; to make and enter into leases of equipment and real property, a hospital or hospital facilities, as lessor or lessee, regardless of the duration of such lease; provided, however, that any lease of substantially all of the hospital, as the term "hospital" is defined in section 197.020, RSMo, wherein the board of trustees is lessor shall be entered into only with the approval of the county commission wherein such hospital is located; and further to provide rules and regulations for the operation, management or use of a hospital or hospital facilities. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection pertaining to the lease of the hospital, as herein defined, shall have a definite termination date as negotiated by the parties, but this shall not preclude the trustees from entering into a renewal of the agreement with the same or other parties pertaining to the same or other subjects upon such terms and conditions as the parties may agree.

5. The board of hospital trustees shall have power to appoint a suitable chief executive officer and necessary assistants and fix their compensation, and shall also have power to remove such appointees; and shall in general carry out the spirit and intent of sections 205.160 to 205.340 in establishing and maintaining a county public hospital.

6. The board of hospital trustees may establish and operate a day care center to provide care exclusively for the children of the hospital's employees. A day care center established by the board shall be licensed under the provisions of sections 210.201 to 210.245, RSMo. The operation of a day care center shall be paid for by fees or charges, established by the board, and collected from the hospital employees who use its services. The board, however, is authorized to receive any private donations or grants from agencies of the federal government intended for the support of the day care center.

7. The board of hospital trustees shall hold meetings at least once each month, shall keep a complete record of all its proceedings; and three members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

8. One of the trustees shall visit and examine the hospital at least twice each month and the board shall, during the first week in January of each year, file with the county commission of the county a report of its proceedings with reference to such hospital and a statement of all receipts and expenditures during the year; and shall at such time certify the amount necessary to maintain and improve the hospital for the ensuing year.

206.110. 1. A hospital district, both within and outside such district, except in counties of the third or fourth classification (other than the county in which the hospital is located) where there already exists a hospital organized pursuant to chapters 96, 205 or 206, RSMo; provided, however, that this exception shall not prohibit the continuation of existing activities otherwise allowed by law, shall have and exercise the following governmental powers, and all other powers incidental, necessary, convenient or desirable to carry out and effectuate the express powers:

(1) To establish and maintain a hospital or hospitals and hospital facilities [within its corporate limits], and to construct, acquire, develop, expand, extend and improve any such hospital or hospital facility including medical office buildings to provide offices for rental to physicians and dentists on the district hospital's medical or dental staff, and the providing of sites therefor, including offstreet parking space for motor vehicles;

(2) To acquire land in fee simple, rights in land and easements upon, over or across land and leasehold interest in land and tangible and intangible personal property used or useful for the location, establishment, maintenance, development, expansion, extension or improvement of any hospital or hospital facility. The acquisition may be by dedication, purchase, gift, agreement, lease, use or adverse possession or by condemnation;

(3) To operate, maintain and manage a hospital and hospital facilities, and to make and enter into contracts, for the use, operation or management of a hospital or hospital facilities; to engage in health care activities; and to make and enter into leases of equipment and real property, a hospital or hospital facilities, as lessor or lessee, regardless of the duration of such lease; and to provide rules and regulations for the operation, management or use of a hospital or hospital facilities. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection pertaining to the lease of the hospital shall have a definite termination date as negotiated by the parties, but this shall not preclude the trustees from entering into a renewal of the agreement with the same or other parties pertaining to the same or other subjects upon such terms and conditions as the parties may agree;

(4) To fix, charge and collect reasonable fees and compensation for the use or occupancy of the hospital or any part thereof, or any hospital facility, and for nursing care, medicine, attendance, or other services furnished by the hospital or hospital facilities, according to the rules and regulations prescribed by the board from time to time;

(5) To borrow money and to issue bonds, notes, certificates, or other evidences of indebtedness for the purpose of accomplishing any of its corporate purposes, subject to compliance with any condition or limitation set forth in this chapter or otherwise provided by the Constitution of the State of Missouri;

(6) To employ or enter into contracts for the employment of any person, firm, or corporation, and for professional services, necessary or desirable for the accomplishment of the corporate objects of the district or the proper administration, management, protection or control of its property;

(7) To maintain the hospital for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area comprising the district who are sick, injured, or maimed regardless of race, creed or color, and to adopt such reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary to render the use of the hospital of the greatest benefit to the greatest number; to exclude from the use of the hospital all persons who willfully disregard any of the rules and regulations so established; to extend the privileges and use of the hospital to persons residing outside the area of the district upon such terms and conditions as the board of directors prescribes by its rules and regulations;

(8) To police its property and to exercise police powers in respect thereto or in respect to the enforcement of any rule or regulation provided by the ordinances of the district and to employ and commission police officers and other qualified persons to enforce the same.

2. The use of any hospital or hospital facility of a district shall be subject to the reasonable regulation and control of the district and upon such reasonable terms and conditions as shall be established by its board of directors.

3. A regulatory ordinance of a district adopted under any provision of this section may provide for a suspension or revocation of any rights or privileges within the control of the district for a violation of any such regulatory ordinance.

4. Nothing in this section or in other provisions of this chapter shall be construed to authorize the district or board to establish or enforce any regulation or rule in respect to hospitalization or the operation or maintenance of such hospital or any hospital facilities within its jurisdiction which is in conflict with any federal or state law or regulation applicable to the same subject matter.

206.157. 1. A hospital district may[, in the manner provided in subsection 2 of this section,] sell and convey property of the district, both real and personal, in the manner provided in subsection 2 of this section for real property and in the manner provided in subsection 3 of this section for personal property, which is no longer needed by the district to carry out the purposes for which the district was organized, including hospital buildings and grounds which have been adequately replaced by other hospital buildings and grounds, provided that all bonds of the district, whether general obligation bonds constituting a lien on the property no longer needed, or revenue bonds constituting a lien on the revenue arising from the operation of such property, have been paid in full; or a sum sufficient to pay all of such bonds, together with interest accrued or to accrue thereon, together with any other items of expense provided in such bonds, is deposited with the fiscal agent named in the bonds for the purpose of full payment; or consent in writing is obtained from all of the holders of the bonds.

2. [Upon filing with the county clerk of the county in which the original petition to organize the district was filed a certified copy of a resolution adopted by the board of directors of the hospital district to sell specified property of the district, setting forth the reasons why the property is no longer needed by the district and the manner in which the conditions of the provisions in subsection 1 of this section have been satisfied, the clerk shall present the resolution to the county commission. If the commission is satisfied that the statements in the resolution are true and valid, it shall by order entered of record approve the resolution. The board of directors of the district may then proceed to sell and convey the property. The deed shall be executed under the hand and seal of the secretary of the board of directors of the hospital district for and on behalf of the hospital district, and shall be sufficient to convey to the purchaser all the right, title, interest and estate which the hospital district has in the property.] Upon receipt of a request for sale of excess real property, the board of directors of the hospital district shall review the reasons why the specified real property is no longer needed by the hospital district and the manner in which the conditions of the provisions of subsection 1 of this section have been satisfied. If the board of directors is satisfied that the statements and the reasons are true and valid, it shall adopt a resolution approving the sale or other disposition of the specified real property. A certified copy of the board of director's adopted resolution to sell or otherwise dispose of specified real property of the district shall be filed with the county clerk of the county in which the original petition to organize the district was filed. If the county commission is satisfied that the statements in the resolution are true and valid, it shall by order approve the resolution. The board of directors of the hospital district shall then proceed to sell, convey or otherwise dispose of the specified real property pursuant to the terms of the resolution adopted by the board of directors. The deed shall be executed under the hand and seal of the secretary of the board of directors of the hospital district for and on behalf of the hospital district and shall be sufficient to convey to purchaser or other recipient all the right, title, interest and estate which the hospital district has in the specified real property.

3. Upon receipt of a request for sale of excess personal property, the board of directors of the hospital district shall review the reasons why the specified personal property is no longer needed by the hospital district and the manner in which the conditions of the provisions of subsection 1 of this section have been satisfied. If the board of directors is satisfied that the statements and the reasons are true and valid, it shall adopt a resolution approving the sale or other disposition of the specified personal property. The board of directors of the hospital district shall then proceed to sell, convey or otherwise dispose of the specified personal property pursuant to the terms of the resolution adopted by the board of directors. Any bill of sale required shall be executed under the hand and seal of the secretary of the board of directors of the hospital district for and on behalf of the hospital district and shall be sufficient to convey to purchaser or other recipient all the right, title, interest and estate which the hospital district has in the specified personal property.

[3.] 4. The proceeds from the sale of the real or personal property remaining after the expenses of the [sale of the] property have been paid shall be placed in the treasury of the district and used to carry out the purposes for which the district was organized.