HB119.html

Code Section 31_7_72 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to creation of county and municipal hospital authorities, is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting in its place a new subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) There is created in and for each county and municipal corporation of the state a public body corporate and politic to be known as the 'hospital authority' of such county or city, which shall consist of a board of not less than five nor more than nine members to be appointed by the governing body of the county or municipal corporation of the area of operation for staggered terms as specified by resolution of the governing body. The number of members of any hospital authority as of March 1, 1984, may be increased by not more than two additional members by the adoption of a resolution of the members of the hospital authority, and such additional members shall be appointed through the same process used for filling vacancies which was in effect for such hospital authority on January 1, 1984. Whenever an appointment to fill a vacancy on the board of any hospital authority is made, either for an unexpired term or a full term, consideration shall be given as to whether a licensed doctor of medicine or registered nurse currently serves on such authority. If no licensed doctor of medicine or registered nurse currently serves on such authority, then consideration shall be given to the nomination and choice of a licensed doctor of medicine or a registered nurse to fill such vacancy. On or after July 1, 2001, with respect to an appointment to fill a vacancy on the board of any hospital authority, either for an unexpired term or a full term, no member of the governing authority of a county or municipality shall be eligible to serve as a member of such board. No authority created under this Code section shall transact any business or exercise any powers under this Code section until the governing body of the area of operation shall, by proper resolution, declare that there is need for an authority to function in such county or municipal corporation. Copies of a resolution so adopted and any resolution adopted by the governing body providing for filling vacancies in the membership of the authority or making any changes in membership shall be filed with the department."