SB 23-068

Senate Bill 23-068, which has been approved by the governor and is now in effect, makes several changes to how county public hospitals operate in Colorado. It allows smaller counties (with fewer than 3,000 people) to have a hospital board with seven members instead of five, and it lets these boards manage their own debts without involving the county commissioners unless tax money is involved. The bill also removes limits on how much money from the general fund can be used for hospital improvements or operations, and it allows hospitals to offer more health services to the public. This affects counties with small populations that have public hospitals and will help these hospitals operate more independently and efficiently.

Official Summary

The act makes the following changes regarding county public hospitals: Allows the board of county commissioners of a county with a population of less than 3,000 to determine, by a resolution of the board of county commissioners, that the public hospital board of trustees (hospital board) will consist of 7, rather than 5, citizens at large and specifies the length of the terms of the additional hospital board trustees in a manner that staggers the terms; Authorizes real property to be in the name of either the county or the hospital, rather than only in the name of the county; Clarifies that any indebtedness incurred by a hospital board is an obligation of the hospital board and not an obligation of the board of county commissioners; Specifies that a hospital board needs the approval of the board of county commissioners before incurring indebtedness only if the repayment of the indebtedness is dependent on tax money received for hospital purposes from the board of county commissioners; Allows a hospital board to offer to the general public products and services of any health-care organization, association, partnership, or corporation to the extent that the products and services are consistent with the powers and duties of a county public hospital; and Removes the annual 5% limit on appropriations from a county's general fund for the improvement or enlargement of any public hospital established in the county and also allows such money to be used for the operation of a public hospital. APPROVED by Governor April 3, 2023 EFFECTIVE April 3, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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