HOSPITAL GOVERNING BOARDS

House Bills  5244, 5245 and 5248

Sponsor: Rep. Samuel Thomas III

Committee: Health Policy

Complete to 8-28-00

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5244, 5245, AND 5248 AS INTRODUCED 2-1-00

The bills would expand the responsibility of a hospital's governing body, and would include the governing board or body of a nonprofit hospital in the definition of "public body" under both the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Specifically, the bills would do the following:

House Bill 5244 would amend the Public Health Code (MCL 333.21513) to require the governing body of each licensed hospital in the state to prepare and make available to the public upon request (and at no charge) an annual Community Responsibility Report. The report would have to be available no later than May 15 of each year, with the first report being due one year after the May 15th that followed the bill's effective date. The report would have to include the following information:

1. a description of the community served by the hospital;


2. a description of the responsibilities of the governing body to the community;


3. a summary of actions taken by the hospital and the governing body in fulfilling the governing body's responsibilities to the community;


4. a balance sheet and income statement for the hospital at the close of business on the preceding December 31 or the last day of the hospital's fiscal year; and


5. the name, address, and telephone number of each member of the governing body.

House Bill 5245 would amend the Open Meetings Act (MCL 15.262) and House Bill 5248 would amend the Freedom of Information Act (MCL 15.232) to include the governing board or other governing body of a nonprofit hospital in the definition of "public body" contained in each act; thereby requiring the governing board or body of a nonprofit hospital to comply with provisions of the acts.

Analyst: S. Stutzky