THE BILL ITSELF
HB 1047
Activities of Special Districts
1
A bill to be entitled
2
An act relating to activities of special districts;
3
providing legislative findings; amending s. 189.081,
4
F.S.; authorizing certain special districts meeting
5
particular criteria to jointly enter into, participate
6
in, establish, and control specified joint
7
relationships or collaborations anywhere in the
8
boundaries of either or all such special districts;
9
establishing state action immunity; authorizing such
10
districts to exercise such powers regardless of
11
certain consequences; providing construction;
12
providing an effective date.
14
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
Section 1. The Legislature finds and declares that the
17
provision of quality and cost-efficient medical care is a public
18
necessity and this act serves a public purpose. The Legislature
19
further finds and declares that collaborations of special
20
districts that operate as hospital districts under this act
21
benefit the residents of this state by improving access to
22
health care services, strengthening the integration of health
23
care service providers, and promoting the continuity of care
24
provided to the residents of the state, and that such
25
relationships and collaborations are vitally important to and
26
necessary for the preservation of the public health and welfare
27
of such districts, the inhabitants thereof, and the residents of
28
this state.
29
Section 2. Subsection (7) is added to section 189.081, Florida Statutes, to read:
31
189.081 Activities of special districts; local government
32
comprehensive planning.—
33
(7)(a) Two or more special districts that operate as
34
hospital districts may jointly enter into, participate in,
35
establish, and control any venture, partnership, corporation,
36
business entity, organization, joint operating network, service
37
line, facility, or any other joint relationship or
38
collaboration, public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit,
39
anywhere within the boundaries of either or all such special
40
districts.
41
(b) Parties that jointly enter into or participate in
42
joint relationships or collaborations with special districts
43
pursuant to paragraph (a) have state action immunity under the
44
laws and Constitution of the State of Florida and may exercise
45
the powers granted in paragraph (a), regardless of the purposes
46
or effect of such relationships or collaborations, or that the
47
exercise thereof may otherwise be deemed or considered to be in
48
violation of state or federal antitrust laws.
49
(c) This subsection shall supersede and control over any
50
general or special law that is inconsistent or in conflict with
51
this subsection.
52
Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.