HB 1605

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the South Broward Hospital District,
3	Broward County; providing for codification of special laws
4	regarding special districts pursuant to section 189.429,
5	Florida Statutes, relating to South Broward Hospital
6	District, a special tax district in Broward County;
7	providing legislative intent; codifying, repealing,
8	amending, and reenacting chapters 24415 (1947), 59-1125,
9	59-1126, 59-1128, 61-1925, 61-1932, 61-1935, 63-1180, 65-
10	1296, 65-1339, 67-1164, 69-910, 70-618, 71-566, 71-577,
11	72-494, 74-436, 74-450, 75-346, 75-349, 76-337, 76-339,
12	79-431, 80-459, 80-466, 80-467, 80-469, 81-351, 82-269,
13	83-378, 84-400, 90-488, and 99-423, Laws of Florida;
14	providing district boundaries; providing for a board of
15	commissioners; providing powers, functions, and duties of
16	the district and its board of commissioners; providing a
17	district charter; providing for ratification of prior
18	acts; providing for liberal construction; providing a
19	saving clause in the event any provision of the act is
20	deemed invalid; providing an effective date.
21
22	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24	Section 1.  Pursuant to section 189.429, Florida Statutes,
25	this act constitutes the codification of all special acts
26	relating to the South Broward Hospital District. It is the
27	intent of the Legislature in enacting this law to provide a
28	single, comprehensive special act charter for the district,
29	including all current legislative authority granted to the
30	district by its several legislative enactments and any
31	additional authority granted by this act. It is further the
32	intent to preserve all district authority, including the
33	authority to annually assess and levy ad valorem taxes against
34	all assessable property in the district.
35	Section 2.  Chapters 24415 (1947), 59-1125, 59-1126, 59-
36	1128, 61-1925, 61-1932, 61-1935, 63-1180, 65-1296, 65-1339, 67-
37	1164, 69-910, 70-618, 71-566, 71-577, 72-494, 74-436, 74-450,
38	75-346, 75-349, 76-337, 76-339, 79-431, 80-459, 80-466, 80-467,
39	80-469, 81-351, 82-269, 83-378, 84-400, 90-488, and 99-423, Laws
40	of Florida, relating to the South Broward Hospital District, are
41	codified, reenacted, amended, and repealed as herein provided.
42	Section 3.  The South Broward Hospital District is re-
43	created, and the charter for the district is re-created and
44	reenacted to read:
45	Section 1.  A special tax district is hereby created and
46	incorporated, to be known as ?South Broward Hospital District?
47	in Broward County, which said district shall embrace and include
48	the following described property in Broward County, to-wit:
49
50	Begin at a point where the North boundary line of
51	Section 25, Township 50 South, Range 42 east
52	intersects the line of mean low tide of the Atlantic
53	Ocean; thence run westerly along the North boundary
54	line of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 in Township
55	50 South, Range 42 East, and continue westerly along
56	the North boundary line of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
57	and 30 in Township 50 South,  Range 41 East, to the
58	westerly boundary of Range 41 East, thence continue in
59	a southerly direction along the westerly boundary line
60	of said Section 30 to a point of intersection with the
61	North boundary line of Section 25, Township 50 South,
62	Range 40 East, extended easterly; thence westerly
63	along the North boundary line of said Section 25 to
64	the Northwest corner of said Section 25, Township 50
65	South, Range 40 East; thence in a southerly direction
66	along the West boundary line of Sections 25 and 36 of
67	Township 50 South, Range 40 East, and continue
68	southerly along the West boundary lines of Sections 1,
69	12, 13, 24, 25 and 36, Township 51 South, Range 40
70	East, to the southwest corner of said Section 36;
71	thence easterly along the South boundary line of said
72	Section 36 to the southeast corner thereof; thence run
73	northerly along the East line of Section 36, Township
74	51 South, Range 40 East to a point where the south
75	boundary line of  Section 30, Township 51 South, Range
76	41 East, intersects the east boundary line of said
77	Section 36, Township 51 South, Range 40 East; thence
78	run easterly along the south boundary line of Sections
79	30, 29, 28, 27, 26 and 25 in Township 51 South, Range
80	41 East, and continue easterly along the south
81	boundary line of Sections 30, 29, 28, 27, 26 and 25 in
82	Township 51 South, Range 42 East, to a point where the
83	south boundary line of said Section 25, Township 51
84	South, Range 42 East; intersects the mean low tide of
85	the Atlantic Ocean; thence run northerly along said
86	mean low tide line of Atlantic Ocean to the point of
87	beginning expressly excepting from the foregoing
88	description all lands lying and being with the
89	corporate limits of the City of Fort Lauderdale,
90	Broward County, Florida, as the said limits exist on
91	the date of passage of this Act.
92
93	Section 2.  The following described property in Broward
94	County is hereby annexed to the South Broward Hospital District,
95	and the district shall include said property, to wit:
96
97	Begin at the Northwest corner of Section 25, Township
98	50 South, Range 40 East; thence run Westerly along the
99	North boundary line of Sections 26 to 30, inclusive,
100	of Township 50 South, Range 40 East, and continue
101	Westerly along the North boundary line of Sections 25
102	to 30, inclusive, of Township 50 South, Range 39 East,
103	and continue Westerly along the North boundary line of
104	Sections 25 to 30, inclusive, of Township 50 South,
105	Range 38 East, and continue Westerly along the North
106	boundary line of Sections 25 to 30, inclusive, of
107	Township 50 South, Range 37 East, to the East boundary
108	line of Section 25, Township 50 South, Range 36 East;
109	thence run Northerly along said East boundary line of
110	said Section 25 to the Northeast corner of said
111	Section 25, Township 50 South, Range 36 East; thence
112	continue Westerly along the North boundary line of
113	Sections 25 to 30, inclusive, of Township 50 South,
114	Range 36 East, and continue Westerly along the North
115	boundary line of Sections 25 to 30, inclusive of
116	Township 50 South, Range 35 East, to the Western
117	boundary line of Broward County, Florida; thence run
118	Southerly along the said west boundary line of Broward
119	County, Florida to the Southwest corner of Broward
120	County, Florida; thence run Easterly along the South
121	boundary line of Broward County, Florida to the
122	Southwest corner of Section 36, Township 51 South,
123	Range 40 East; thence run North along the West
124	boundary line of Sections 36, 25, 24, 13, 12, and 1 of
125	Township 51 South, Range 40 East; continue Northerly
126	along the west boundary line of Sections 36 and 25 of
127	Township 50 South Range 40 East to the Northwest
128	corner of said Section 25, Township 50 South, Range 40
129	East, which is the point of the beginning.
130
131	Section 3.  That said South Broward Hospital District shall
132	be composed of the following subdistricts:
133
134	(1)  Sub-district No. 1 shall include the following
135	described property:
136
137	Beginning at the point where the north boundary line
138	of Section 25, Township 50 South, Range 42 East,
139	Broward County, Florida, intersects the mean low water
140	line of the Atlantic Ocean, run Westerly along the
141	north line of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 in
142	Township 50 South, Range 42 East, and continue
143	Westerly along the north line of Sections 25, 26 and
144	27 in Township 50 South, Range 41 East to the
145	northwest corner of said Section 27; thence, Southerly
146	along the west line of Sections 27 and 34 in Township
147	50 South, Range 41 East, and continue Southerly along
148	the west line of Section 3, Township 51 South, Range
149	42 East, to the southwest corner of said Section 3,
150	thence, Easterly along the south line of Sections 3, 2
151	and 1, Township 51 South, Range 41 East, and continue
152	Easterly along the south line of Sections 6, 5, 4, 3,
153	2 and 1 in Township 51 South, Range 42 East, to the
154	point of intersection with the mean low water line of
155	the Atlantic Ocean; thence, Northerly along said mean
156	low water line of the Atlantic Ocean to the point of
157	beginning; expressly excepting from the foregoing
158	description all lands, if any, lying and beginning
159	within the corporate limits of the City of Fort
160	Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida, as the said
161	limits exist on the date of passage of this act.
162
163	(2)  Subdistrict No. 2 shall include the following
164	described property:
165
166	Beginning at the point where the south boundary line
167	of Section 1, Township 51 South, Range 42 East,
168	Broward County, Florida, intersects the mean low water
169	line of the Atlantic Ocean, run Westerly along the
170	south line of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in Township
171	51 South, Range 42 East, and continue Westerly along
172	the south line of Sections 1, 2 and 3 in Township 51
173	South, Range 41 East, to the southwest corner of said
174	Section 3; thence, Southerly along the west line of
175	Sections 10, 15 and 22 in Township 51 South, Range 41
176	East, to the Quarter Corner on the west boundary of
177	said Section 22; thence, Easterly along the Quarter
178	Section line through Sections 22, 23 and 24 in
179	Township 51 South, Range 41 East, and continue
180	Easterly along the Quarter Section line through
181	Sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 in Township 51
182	South, Range 42 East, to the point of intersection
183	with the mean low water line of the Atlantic Ocean;
184	thence, Northerly along said mean low water line of
185	the Atlantic Ocean to the point of beginning.
186
187	(3)  Subdistrict No. 3 shall include the following
188	described property:
189
190	Beginning at the point where the East-West Quarter
191	Section line of Section 24, Township 51 South, Range
192	42 East, Broward County, Florida, intersects the mean
193	low water line of the Atlantic Ocean, run westerly
194	along the Quarter Section line through Sections 24,
195	23, 22, 21, 20 and 19, Township 51 South, Range 42
196	East, and continue Westerly along the Quarter Section
197	line, Range 41 East, to the west boundary of said
198	Section 22; thence, Southerly along the west line of
199	Sections 22 and 27 in Township 51 South, Range 41
200	East, to the southwest corner of said Sections 27, 26
201	and 25 in Township 51 South, Range 41 East, and
202	continue Easterly along the south line of Sections 30,
203	29, 28, 27 and 26 in Township 51 South, Range 42 East,
204	to the point of intersection with the mean low water
205	line of the Atlantic Ocean to the point of beginning.
206
207	(4)  Subdistrict No. 4 shall include the following
208	described property:
209
210	Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 28,
211	Township 50 South, Range 41 East, Broward County,
212	Florida, run Westerly along the north line of Sections
213	28, 29 and 30 in Township 50 South, Range 41, East, to
214	the west line of Range 41 East, thence, Southerly
215	along the west line of said Section 30 to a point of
216	intersection with the north line of Section 25,
217	Township 50 South, Range 40 East, extended easterly;
218	thence, Westerly along the north line of Sections 25,
219	26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 in Township 50 South, Range 40
220	East and continue Westerly along the north line of
221	Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 in Township 50
222	South, Range 39 East, and continue Westerly along the
223	north line of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30,
224	Township 50 South, Range 37 East, to the east line of
225	Section 25, Township 50 South, Range 36 East; thence
226	Northerly along the east line of said Section 25 to
227	the northeast corner of said Section 25; thence
228	Westerly along the north line of Sections 25, 26, 27,
229	28, 29 and 30, Township 50 South, Range 36 East, and
230	continue Westerly along the north line of Sections 25,
231	26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, Township 50 South, Range 35
232	East, to the west line of Range 35 East, being the
233	western limits of Broward County; thence Southerly
234	along the west line of Range 35 to the southwest
235	corner of Section 18, Township 51 South, Range 35
236	East; thence, Easterly along the south line of
237	Sections 18, 17, 16, 15, 14 and 13, Township 51 South,
238	Range 36 East to the east line of said Range 36 East;
239	thence Southerly along said east line of Range 36 East
240	to the Southwest corner of Section 7, Township 51
241	South Range 37 East; thence, Easterly along the south
242	line of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, Township 51
243	South, Range 37 East, and continue Easterly along the
244	south line of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12,
245	Township 51 South, Range 38 East, and continue
246	Westerly along the south line of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10,
247	11 and 12, Township 51 South, Range 39 East, and
248	continue Easterly along the south line of Sections 7,
249	8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, Township 51 South, Range 40 East,
250	and continue Easterly along the south line of Sections
251	7, 8, and 9, Township 51 South, Range 41 East to the
252	southeast corner of said Section 9; thence Northerly
253	along the east line of Sections 9 and 4, Township 51
254	South, Range 41 East, and continue Northerly along the
255	east line of Sections 33 and 28, Township 50 South,
256	Range 41 East, to the point of beginning.
257
258	(5)  Subdistrict No. 5 shall include the following
259	described property:
260
261	Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 16,
262	Township 51 South, Range 41 East, Broward County,
263	Florida, run Westerly along the north line of Sections
264	16, 17 and 18, Township 51 South, Range 41 East, and
265	continue Westerly along the north line of Sections 13,
266	14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, Township 51 South, Range 40
267	East, and continue Westerly along the north line of
268	Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, Township 51 South,
269	Range 39 East, and continue Westerly along the north
270	line of Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, Township
271	51 South, Range 37 East, to the east line of Range 36
272	East to the northeast corner of Section 24, Township
273	51 South, Range 36 East; thence, Westerly along the
274	north line of Sections 24, 23, 22, 21, 20 and 19,
275	Township 51 South, Range 36 East, and continue
276	Westerly along the north line of Sections 24, 23, 22,
277	21, 20 and 19, Township 51 South, Range 35 East, to
278	the west line of Range 35 East, being the western
279	limits of Broward County; thence, Southerly along the
280	west line of Range 35 to the south line of Township 51
281	South; thence Easterly along the south line of said
282	Township 51 to the west line of Range 37 East; thence,
283	Southerly along the west line of Range 37 to the
284	southwest corner of Section 31, Township 51 South,
285	Range 37 East; thence Easterly along the south line of
286	Township 51 to the east line of Range 40 East; thence
287	northerly along the east line of said Range 40 to the
288	southwest corner of Section 30, Township 51 South,
289	Range 41 East; thence, Easterly along the south line
290	of Sections 30, 29 and 28 to the southeast corner of
291	said Section 28; thence, Northerly along the east line
292	of Section 28, 21 and 16 to the point of beginning.
293
294	(6)  Subdistrict Nos. 6 and 7 shall both include all
295	of the area within subdistrict Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
296
297	Section 4.  The governing body of the South Broward
298	Hospital District shall consist of seven commissioners who shall
299	serve without compensation. All commissioners shall be qualified
300	electors residing in Broward County for more than 1 year and in
301	said subdistricts for more than 90 days prior to the
302	appointment; one of whom shall reside in subdistrict No. 1, one
303	of whom shall reside in subdistrict No. 2, one of whom shall
304	reside in subdistrict No. 3, one of whom shall reside in
305	subdistrict No. 4, one of whom shall reside in subdistrict No.
306	5, and two of whom shall reside in subdistricts 6 and 7, and
307	they shall be known and designated as the ?Board of
308	Commissioners of the South Broward Hospital District.? It is not
309	a requirement for office that any commissioner be a freeholder.
310	Commissioners shall be appointed for staggered terms of 4 years
311	each and shall serve until their successors are appointed. The
312	Governor shall have the power to remove any member of said board
313	of commissioners for cause, and shall fill any vacancies that
314	may at any time occur therein.  Each member shall give bond to
315	the Governor for the faithful performance of his or her duties
316	in the sum of $5,000 with a surety company qualified to do
317	business in the state, as surety, which bond shall be approved
318	and kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Broward County.
319	The premiums on said bond shall be paid as part of the expenses
320	of said district. The respective terms of the commissioners in
321	office at the time this law shall take effect shall continue for
322	their term of office and shall thereafter continue until their
323	successors are appointed and qualified as herein provided.
324	Section 5.  (1)  The Board of Commissioners of the South
325	Broward Hospital District shall have all of the following
326	governmental, corporate, and proprietary powers:
327	(a)  To enable the board of commissioners to provide any
328	and all types of health care facilities, equipment, and services
329	and any and all types of facilities, equipment, and services
330	related or incidental thereto, directly or indirectly, whether
331	alone, or in conjunction with other public or private persons,
332	not for profit or for profit.
333	(b)  To sponsor, with any form of assistance not expressly
334	prohibited by the State Constitution, the formation,
335	organization, capitalization, and operation of public or private
336	persons, not for profit or for profit, providing or intending to
337	provide any types of health facilities, equipment, and services
338	or any facilities, equipment, or services related or incidental
339	thereto, and to provide, from assets and resources then owned by
340	the district, or assets and resources specifically acquired for
341	the purpose, goods and services to such persons by sale, lease,
342	contract, grant, gift, or otherwise upon such terms and
343	conditions as the board of commissioners may determine in its
344	sole discretion are in the public interest.
345	(c)  To restructure and reorganize all or part of the
346	assets, liabilities, and operations of the district into such
347	public or private persons, not for profit or for profit, as the
348	board of commissioners may in its sole discretion determine are
349	in the public interest and are not expressly prohibited by the
350	State Constitution, whether for the purpose of having such
351	persons conduct operations previously conducted by the district
352	or having such persons conduct operations which the district has
353	the power to conduct directly but has not undertaken directly.
354	(d)  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to
355	exercise all of the powers of a corporation organized pursuant
356	to chapter 607, Florida Statutes.
357	(e)  To establish and maintain, or to sponsor the
358	establishment and maintenance, directly or indirectly, alone or
359	in conjunction with other public or private persons, not for
360	profit or for profit, with any form of assistance from the
361	district not expressly prohibited by the State Constitution,
362	health maintenance organizations or services, preferred provider
363	organizations or services, programs for cost containment, health
364	insurance, or indemnity benefit systems, service benefit
365	systems, and any other organization or system that provides, or
366	arranges for the provision of, health care services or otherwise
367	pays for, or protects residents and nonresidents of the district
368	against, the costs of health care services.
369	(f)  To sue and be sued under the name of South Broward
370	Hospital District.
371	(g)  To contract and be contracted with.
372	(h)  To adopt and use a common seal and to alter the same
373	at pleasure.
374	(i)  To acquire, purchase, hold, lease, and convey such
375	real and personal property as the board deems proper or
376	expedient.
377	(j)  To appoint and employ a superintendent or
378	administrator and such other agents and employees as the board
379	deems advisable.
380	(k)  To borrow money and to issue the notes, bonds, and
381	other evidences of indebtedness of the district therefore to
382	carry out the provisions of this act in the manner hereinafter
383	provided.
384	(2)  The provisions of this act shall be so construed as to
385	secure and extend to the board of commissioners all powers,
386	whether governmental, corporate, or proprietary, not expressly
387	prohibited by the State Constitution and to remove any
388	limitations judicially imposed or otherwise. No person whom the
389	district sponsors, or with whom the district contracts, or to
390	whom the district sponsors, or with personal property, goods, or
391	services, by contract, lease, sales, grant, gift, or otherwise,
392	shall be deemed an agency of the district. It is hereby found
393	and declared to be a public purpose and necessity for the
394	preservation of the public health and for public use and for the
395	welfare of the district and the residents thereof that the board
396	of commissioners of the district have the broadest possible
397	power to provide and structure health facilities and services,
398	and facilities and services incidental or related thereto, in
399	order to meet all types of health needs, and pursuant thereto to
400	have the broadest flexibility to involve public and private
401	persons, for profit and not for profit, in the establishment,
402	maintenance, and operation of such facilities and services so as
403	to provide the board of commissioners with the greatest
404	flexibility permitted by the State Constitution to establish,
405	maintain, and operate, alone or in conjunction with other public
406	or private persons, not for profit and for profit, such health
407	facilities and services, and facilities and services related or
408	incidental thereto, which in the sole judgment of the board of
409	commissioners are responsive to the health needs of the district
410	and are in the public interest.
411	Section 6.  Four of said commissioners shall constitute a
412	quorum, and a vote of at least three of the commissioners shall
413	be necessary to the transaction of any business of the district.
414	The commissioners shall cause true and accurate minutes and
415	records to be kept of all business transacted by them, and shall
416	keep full, true, and complete books of account and minutes,
417	which minutes, records, and books of account shall at all
418	reasonable times be open and subject to the inspection of
419	inhabitants of the district; and any person desiring to do so
420	may make or procure a copy of the minutes, records, or books of
421	account, or such portions thereof as he may desire.
422	Section 7.  The South Broward Hospital District is
423	authorized and empowered to create an employees? pension fund so
424	as to provide for life and/or disability and/or medical
425	insurance for all or any of its employees or officers on a group
426	insurance or other acceptable plan approved by said Board of
427	Commissioners of South Broward Hospital District, and to
428	establish and create by resolution an employees? pension,
429	annuity, and/or retirement plan for any and all groups of
430	officers and employees employed by the South Broward Hospital
431	District and qualifying for such plan, and to pay all or such
432	portion of the cost of any such employees? pension, annuity,
433	and/or retirement plan from funds available to the district from
434	its authorized sources with employees defraying the balance
435	thereof, if any, as said board of commissioners by resolution
436	may determine for any and all groups of officers and employees
437	employed by said South Broward Hospital District.
438	Section 8.  Without in any way limiting the powers set
439	forth in section 5, the board of commissioners is hereby
440	authorized and empowered to establish, construct, operate, and
441	maintain such hospital or hospitals and other health facilities
442	as in their opinion are necessary for the use of the people of
443	the district, and to establish, construct, operate, and maintain
444	such facilities for the care of such persons requiring limited
445	medical care or treatment as in their opinion is necessary for
446	the people of the district. The hospital or hospitals, other
447	health facilities, and facilities for limited care and treatment
448	shall be established, constructed, operated, and maintained by
449	the board of commissioners for the preservation of the public
450	health, for the public good, and for the use of the public of
451	the district; and maintenance of the hospital or hospitals,
452	other health facilities, and facilities for limited care and
453	treatment within the district is hereby found and declared to be
454	a public purpose and necessary for the preservation of the
455	public health, for public use, and for the welfare of the
456	district and inhabitants thereof. The location and legal form
457	and structure of such hospital or hospitals, other health
458	facilities, and facilities for limited care and treatment shall
459	be determined by the board.
460	Section 9.  (1)  The board of commissioners is hereby
461	authorized and empowered at any time in their discretion to
462	establish and maintain, in connection with such hospital, and as
463	a part thereof, or in connection with any other educational or
464	vocational institution in the state, a school or training
465	program for nurses, paramedics, medical technicians, and other
466	technical employees in the hospital, medical, or related field.
467	Said board of commissioners are authorized and empowered to set
468	up all rules and regulations necessary for the operation of such
469	training program whether it be in a school, hospital, or within
470	departments of the hospital, and they are further authorized to
471	make all necessary expenditures in connection therewith,
472	including payments and other assistance to other educational or
473	vocational institutions in the state having such a curriculum or
474	training program.
475	(2)  In the event the schools are established within the
476	hospital, the hospital may, upon completion of the prescribed
477	course of training, give to such nurses, paramedics, medical, or
478	related fields, who have satisfactorily completed the said
479	course, a diploma or certificate of training. Similarly, the
480	board is empowered to setup such cooperative doctors? residence
481	programs with any institution of higher learning in the state.
482	Section 10.  The board shall have the power of eminent
483	domain, and may thereby condemn and acquire any real or personal
484	property within the territorial limits of this district, which
485	the board may deem necessary for the use of said district. Such
486	power of condemnation shall be exercised in the same manner as
487	is now provided by the general law for the exercise of the power
488	of eminent domain by cities and towns of the state.
489	Section 11.  (1)  The term ?anticipation time warrants?
490	means bond anticipation notes, grant anticipation notes, revenue
491	anticipation notes, and tax anticipation notes; such
492	anticipation time warrants may be issued in the form of
493	commercial paper.
494	(2)  The district is hereby authorized and empowered, in
495	order to provide facilities, including real and personal
496	property, and to carry out, exercise, and perform its powers and
497	duties, and for any other lawful purpose, to borrow money from
498	time to time, as the board determines is in the best interest of
499	the district, and to issue and sell the anticipation time
500	warrants of the district, and to refund the same by issuing the
501	refunding anticipation time warrants of the district, all upon
502	such terms, having such maturities, form, and terms, and bearing
503	such rate or rates of interest, including variable rates, as may
504	be determined by the board or, if issued in the form of
505	commercial paper, as may be determined by the chair, vice chair,
506	or the secretary-treasurer within guidelines and limits
507	determined by the board, as hereinafter provided in this
508	section.
509	(3)  The district is authorized to borrow money and to
510	issue bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of
511	bonds under section 12 and in anticipation of the issuance of
512	revenue certificates under section 13, all as provided in
513	section 215.431, Florida Statutes, as the said section may from
514	time to time hereafter be amended, to expend the proceeds
515	thereof for the purposes for which such bonds or revenue
516	certificates are to be issued and to pledge, by resolution or
517	contract, the proceeds to be derived from the sale of such bonds
518	or revenue certificates and other legally available funds of the
519	district for the payment of the principal thereof, premium, if
520	any, and interest thereon.
521	(4)  The district is hereby authorized to borrow money and
522	to issue grant anticipation notes having a maturity of not more
523	than 5 years in anticipation of the receipt of any federal,
524	state, private, or other grant, to expend the proceeds thereof
525	for the purposes for which such grant has been made, and to
526	pledge, by resolution or contract, the moneys to be received
527	from such grant and other legally available funds of the
528	district for the payment of the principal thereof, premium, if
529	any, and interest thereon.
530	(5)  The district is hereby authorized to borrow money and
531	to issue revenue anticipation notes having a maturity of not
532	more than 5 years in anticipation of the receipt of revenues,
533	other than ad valorem tax revenues, to expend the proceeds
534	thereof for the purposes set forth in section 16 or for any
535	other lawful purpose, and to pledge, by resolution or contract,
536	revenues of the district, other than ad valorem tax revenues,
537	for the payment of the principal thereof, premium, if any, and
538	interest thereon.
539	(6)  The district is hereby authorized to borrow money and
540	to issue tax anticipation notes having a maturity of not more
541	than 5 years and to levy and appropriate and to pledge, by
542	resolution or contract, ad valorem taxes and other legally
543	available funds of the district in payment of the principal
544	thereof, premium, if any, and interest thereon, provided,
545	however, that no tax anticipation notes having a maturity of
546	more than 12 months shall be issued unless first approved by an
547	election as required by section 12, Article VII of the State
548	Constitution.
549	(7)  The district is hereby authorized to issue the notes
550	described in subsections (3), (4), (5), and (6) in the form of
551	commercial paper and, if issued in such form, the resolution
552	authorizing the issuance thereof may provide for the renewal,
553	refunding, or rollover thereof from time to time so long as no
554	such renewal, refunding, or rollover note shall mature more than
555	5 years after the date of issue of the first such note issued
556	pursuant to such resolution; provided, however, that in the case
557	of tax anticipation notes issued without an election pursuant to
558	subsection (6), no such renewal, refunding, or rollover note
559	shall have a final maturity of more than 12 months from date of
560	issue of the first such tax anticipation note issued pursuant to
561	such resolution. The resolution authorizing the issuance of such
562	notes in the form of commercial paper may set forth guidelines
563	and limits pertaining to the maximum aggregate principal amount
564	of such notes which may be outstanding at any one time, the
565	longest maturity any such note may bear, the form of such notes,
566	the terms (including redemption provisions, the maximum
567	redemption premium which may be permitted, schedules for the
568	amortization of principal and interest which may be permitted,
569	and such other provisions as the board may determine), and the
570	maximum rate of interest any such obligations may bear (which
571	may be specified to be the maximum rate permitted by the laws of
572	the state on the date such notes or renewal, refunding, or
573	rollover notes are issued) and may authorize the chair, the vice
574	chair, or the secretary-treasurer, or any one or more of them,
575	from time to time, to determine, within the aforesaid guidelines
576	and limits, the date or dates on which said notes shall be
577	issued, the aggregate principal amount of notes to be issued at
578	such time, the maturity date or dates of such notes, the form
579	and terms (including provisions for redemption thereof, the
580	amount of any redemption premium, the schedule for the
581	amortization of principal and payment of interest, and other
582	provisions as the board shall have authorized), the rate or
583	rates of interest payable thereon (which may be a variable rate)
584	and to sell, issue, execute, and deliver the same pursuant to
585	such authorization. Any resolution authorizing a negotiated sale
586	of notes in the form of commercial paper to any class of
587	purchaser may likewise authorize the negotiated sale of renewal,
588	refunding, or rollover notes to such class of purchaser and may
589	contain such other provisions as the board may authorize.
590	Section 12.  The Board of Commissioners of the South
591	Broward Hospital District is hereby authorized to issue bonds of
592	said district of such form and denomination, becoming due not
593	more than 40 years from the date of issuance, in an amount not
594	to exceed $50 million as the total bonded indebtedness of said
595	district (excluding from such total bonded indebtedness such
596	obligations of said district that are payable from moneys other
597	than taxation raised annually within said district as provided
598	in section 13), for the purpose of raising funds to establish,
599	construct, acquire, add to, operate, and maintain such hospital
600	or hospitals or other related medical facilities as in the
601	board?s opinion are necessary in said district; the said board
602	of commissioners shall have the power to refund any and all
603	previous issues of bonds for any and all lawful purposes in such
604	manner as said district determine to be in its best interests.
605	Section 13.  Prior to the issuance of such bonds provided
606	in section 12, said board of commissioners shall, by resolution,
607	determine the amount which in their opinion will be necessary to
608	be raised annually by taxation for an interest and sinking fund
609	with which to pay the interest and principal of said bonds; and
610	the said board is hereby authorized, empowered, and required to
611	provide for the levy and collection annually of a sufficient tax
612	upon all the taxable property in said district, not exempt by
613	law, to pay such interest, and with which to provide and
614	maintain a sinking fund for the payment of the principal of said
615	bonds.
616	Section 14.  All bonds issued by the South Broward Hospital
617	District, except refunding bonds, revenue certificates, and
618	anticipation time warrants, shall be issued only after the same
619	shall have been approved at a bond election in the manner
620	provided for by the State Constitution.
621	Section 15.  The board of commissioners is hereby
622	authorized and empowered to compromise and settle any accounts
623	receivable or other claims on money due and owing to the
624	district according to such terms and conditions as the board of
625	commissioners, in its discretion, may determine. The factors
626	which may be considered by the board of commissioners in any
627	such compromise, are the ability of the debtors to pay and the
628	probabilities of collection in full. The board of commissioners
629	is further authorized and empowered to sell, assign, or convey
630	to any person all of the right, title, and interest of the
631	district in any account receivable, note receivable, or judgment
632	owned by the district by payment for such amount, note, or
633	judgment of whatsoever value as the board of commissioners, in
634	its discretion, may determine.  The board of commissioners is
635	further authorized and empowered to subordinate its interest in
636	any mortgage or judgment lien to the interest of any third
637	parties, according to such terms and conditions as the board of
638	commissioners, in it discretion, may determine.
639	Section 16.  The board of commissioners is hereby
640	authorized to provide by resolution at one time or from time to
641	time for the issuance of revenue certificates of the hospital
642	district for the purpose of paying all or a part of the cost of
643	acquisition, construction, planning, repairing, extensions to,
644	additions, equipping, furnishing, and reconstruction of any
645	hospital or hospitals of the district. The certificates of each
646	issuance shall be dated, shall mature at such time or times not
647	exceeding 40 years from their date or dates, shall be in such
648	denominations, shall bear interest at such rate or rates as may
649	be determined by the board of commissioners, and may be made
650	redeemable before maturity at the option of the board of
651	commissioners at such price or prices and under such terms and
652	conditions as may be fixed by the board of commissioners prior
653	to the issuance of the certificates. The board of commissioners
654	shall determine the form of the certificates, including any
655	interest coupons to be attached thereto, and the manner of
656	execution of the certificates and coupons, and shall fix the
657	denomination or denominations of the certificates and the place
658	or places of payment of principal and interest, which may be at
659	any bank or trust company within or without the state. In case
660	any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature
661	shall appear on any certificates or coupons shall cease to be
662	such officer before the delivery of such certificates, such
663	signature or such facsimile shall nevertheless be valid and
664	sufficient for all purposes the same as if he had remained in
665	office until such delivery. All certificates issued under the
666	provisions of this act shall have and are hereby declared to
667	have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments
668	under the law merchant and the laws of the state. The
669	certificates may be issued in coupon or in registered form, or
670	both, as the board of commissioners may determine, and
671	provisions may be made for the registration of any coupon
672	certificates as to principal alone and also as to both principal
673	and interest, and for the reconversion into coupon certificates
674	of any certificates registered as to both principal and
675	interest. The issuance of such certificates shall not be subject
676	to any limitations of conditions contained in any other law or
677	considered as part of the total bonded indebtedness of the
678	district as provided in section 12. Prior to the preparation of
679	definitive certificates, the board of commissioners may, under
680	like restrictions, issue interim receipts or temporary
681	certificates with or without coupons, exchangeable for
682	definitive certificates when such certificates have been
683	executed and are available for delivery. The board of
684	commissioners may also provide for the replacement of any
685	certificates, which shall be mutilated or be destroyed or lost.
686	The Board of Commissioners of the South Broward Hospital
687	District shall have the authority to provide by resolution for
688	the issuance of refunding certificates under such terms and
689	conditions as the board of commissioners shall determine to be
690	in the best interests of the district.
691	Section 17.  As far as practicable, where not inconsistent
692	with the provisions of this act, procedure provided in the
693	general laws of Florida for elections shall govern.
694	Section 18.  All bonds issued under the provisions of
695	section 12 shall be in the denomination of $100 or $1,000, or
696	some multiple thereof, shall bear interest payable annually or
697	semiannually, and both principal and interest shall be payable
698	at such place or places as the governing authority may
699	determine. The form of such bonds shall be fixed by the
700	resolution of the board of commissioners and the said bonds
701	shall be signed by the chair of said board and countersigned by
702	the secretary of said board under the seal of the district.  The
703	coupons, if any, shall be executed by the facsimile signatures
704	of said officers. The delivery at any subsequent date of any
705	bond and coupon so executed shall be valid, although before the
706	date of delivery the person signing such bonds or coupons shall
707	cease to hold office.
708	Section 19.  Bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of
709	section 12 may be either registered or coupon bonds. Coupon
710	bonds may be registered as to principal in the holder?s name on
711	the books of the hospital district, the registration being noted
712	upon the bonds, after which no transfer shall be valid unless
713	made on such hospital district?s books by the registered holder
714	and similarly noted on the bonds. Bonds registered as to
715	principal may be discharged from registration by being
716	transferred to bearer, after which they shall be transferable by
717	delivery, but may be again registered as to principal as before.
718	The registration of the bonds as to principal shall not restrain
719	the negotiability of the coupons by delivery merely.
720	Section 20.  Before any bonds of the South Broward Hospital
721	District are issued pursuant to the provisions of section 12,
722	the board of commissioners shall investigate and determine the
723	legality of the proceedings. The resolution authorizing the
724	bonds may direct that they shall contain the following recital:
725	?It is certified that this bond is authorized by and is issued
726	in conformity with the requirements of the Constitution and
727	Statutes of the State of Florida.? Such recital shall be an
728	authorized declaration by the governing body of the district and
729	shall import that there is constitutional and statutory
730	authority for incurring the debts and issuing the bonds; that
731	all proceedings therefore are regular; that all acts,
732	conditions, and things required to exist, happen, and be
733	performed precedent to and in the issuance of the bond have
734	existed, happened, and been performed in due time, form, and
735	manner, as required by law; and that the amount of the bond,
736	together with all other indebtedness, does not exceed any limit
737	or limits prescribed by the Constitution and statutes of this
738	state. If any bonds be issued containing said recital, it shall
739	be conclusively presumed that said recital, construed according
740	to the import hereby declared, is true, and the district shall
741	not be permitted to question the validity or legality of the
742	obligation in any court in any action or proceeding.
743	Section 21.  In issuing bonds under the provisions of
744	section 12 or revenue certificates under the provisions of
745	section 16, it shall be lawful for the board of commissioners to
746	include more than one improvement or hospital purpose in any
747	such issue of bonds or revenue certificates.
748	Section 22.  No resolution or proceeding in respect to the
749	issuance of said bonds or certificate hereunder shall be
750	necessary, except such as is required by this act. No
751	publication or any resolution or proceeding relating to the
752	issuance of the said bonds or certificates shall be required
753	except such as required by this act. Any publication prescribed
754	hereby may be made in any newspaper conforming to the terms of
755	this act, without regard to the designation thereof as the
756	official organ of the district. Bonds issued hereunder have all
757	the qualities of negotiable paper under the law merchant, shall
758	not be invalid for any irregularity or defect in the proceedings
759	for the issue and sale thereof, and shall be incontestable in
760	the hands of bona fide purchasers or holders thereof for value.
761	Section 23.  The Board of Commissioners of the South
762	Broward Hospital District shall have the power to provide by
763	resolution for the issuance of refunding bonds to refund
764	principal and interest of an existing bond indebtedness, issued
765	under the provisions of section 12, for the payment of which the
766	credit of the hospital district is pledged, and such bonds may
767	be issued at or prior to maturity of the bonds to be refunded.
768	Such resolution may be adopted at a regular or special meeting,
769	and at the same meeting at which it is introduced, by a majority
770	of all of the members of the commission then in office. It is
771	determined and declared as a matter of legislative intent that
772	no election to authorize the issuance of refunding bonds shall
773	be necessary, except in cases where an election may be required
774	by the State Constitution. In all cases where it is not
775	necessary under the constitution to hold an election on the
776	issuance of such refunding bonds, such resolution shall take
777	effect immediately upon the adoption thereof.  No other
778	proceedings or procedures of any character whatever shall be
779	required for the issuance of such bonds by the said district.
780	Section 24.  The resolution of the board of commissioners
781	authorizing the issuance of the refunding bonds may provide that
782	the refunding bonds may be issued in one or more series; may
783	bear such date, may mature at such time, not exceeding 40 years
784	from their respective dates; may bear interest at such rate, not
785	exceeding the maximum rate of interest borne by the bonds
786	refinanced thereby; may be in such denomination; may be in such
787	form, either coupon or registered; may carry such registration
788	and conversion privileges; may be executed in such manner; may
789	be payable in such medium of payment, at such place; may be
790	subject to such terms of redemption, with or without a premium;
791	may be declared or become due before the maturity date thereof;
792	may provide for the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, stolen,
793	or lost bonds; may be authenticated in such manner and upon
794	compliance with such conditions; and may contain such other
795	terms and covenants as may be desired. Notwithstanding the form
796	or tenor thereof, and in the absence of an express recital on
797	the face thereof that the bond is nonnegotiable, all refunding
798	bonds shall at all times be, and shall be treated as, negotiable
799	instruments for all purposes.
800	Section 25.  Refunding bonds bearing the signature of
801	officers of the district in office on the date of the signing
802	thereof shall be valid and binding obligations of the district
803	for all purposes, notwithstanding that before the delivery
804	thereof any or all of the persons whose signatures appear
805	thereon shall have ceased to be officers of the district. Any
806	resolution authorizing refunding bonds may provide that any such
807	refunding bonds issued pursuant to the article may contain such
808	a recital, and any refunding bond issued under authority of any
809	such resolution shall be conclusively deemed to be valid and to
810	have been issued in conformity with the provisions of this act.
811	The authority of the district to issue obligations under this
812	act may be determined and obligations to be issued under this
813	act may be validated as provided by law.
814	Section 26.  Refunding bonds may be sold or exchanged, as
815	follows:
816	(1)  In installments of different times, or an entire issue
817	or series may be sold or exchanged at one time. Any issue or
818	series of refunding bonds may be exchanged in part or sold in
819	parts in installments at different times or at one time. The
820	refunding bonds may be sold or exchanged at any time on, before,
821	or after the maturity of any of the outstanding bonds of the
822	district. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for a like or
823	greater principal amount of such bonds of the district, except
824	that the principal amount of the refunding bonds may exceed the
825	principal amount of such outstanding bonds to the extent
826	necessary or advisable, in the discretion of the governing body,
827	to fund interest in arrears or about to become due. The holder
828	of such outstanding bonds need not pay accrued interest on the
829	refunding bonds to be delivered in exchange therefore if and to
830	the extent that interest is due or accrued and unpaid on such
831	outstanding bonds to be surrendered.
832	(2)  If the board of commissioners determines to exchange
833	any refunding bonds, any such refunding bonds may be exchanged
834	privately for and in payment and discharge of any of the
835	outstanding bonds of the district. The refunding bonds may be
836	exchanged for a like or greater principal amount of such bonds
837	of the district, except that the principal amount of the
838	refunding bonds may exceed the principal amount of such
839	outstanding bonds to the extent necessary or advisable, in the
840	discretion of the governing body, to fund interest in arrears or
841	about to become due. The holder of such outstanding bonds need
842	not pay accrued interest on the refunding bonds to be delivered
843	in exchange thereof if and to the extent that interest is due or
844	accrued and unpaid on such outstanding bonds to be surrendered.
845	Section 27.  The funds of said district shall be paid out
846	only upon warrant signed by the chair of the board, and having
847	thereto affixed the corporate seal of the district; and no
848	warrant shall be drawn or issued against funds of said district
849	except for a purpose authorized by this act, and no such warrant
850	against funds of said district shall be drawn or issued until
851	after the account or expenditure for which the same is to be
852	given in payment has been ordered and approved by the board of
853	commissioners.
854	Section 28.  The Board of Commissioners of South Broward
855	Hospital District is hereby authorized, empowered, and directed
856	annually to levy upon real and personal taxable property of said
857	district, not exempt by law, a sufficient tax necessary for the
858	purposes and needs of the said district incurred in the exercise
859	of the powers and purposes herein granted, the rate of taxation
860	per annum shall not exceed 2.5 mills on the dollar of the
861	valuation of the property within the district for tax purposes,
862	providing, however, that the 2.5 mill limitation herein shall
863	apply only for the purposes and needs of the district and not
864	for the purposes of debt service requirements for bonds that may
865	be issued pursuant to section 12 of this act.
866	Section 29.  That the levy by said board of the taxes
867	authorized by any provision of this act shall be by resolution
868	of said board duly entered upon the minutes of the board.
869	Certified copies of such resolution executed in the name of the
870	board by its chair, under its corporate seal, shall be made and
871	delivered to the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County
872	and to the Chief Financial Officer not later than the 15th day
873	of June of each and every year. It shall be the duty of the
874	County Commissioners of Broward County to order and require that
875	the County Property Appraiser of said county to assess, and the
876	County Tax Collector of said county to collect the amount of
877	taxes so assessed or levied by the Board of Commissioners of
878	said South Broward Hospital District upon the taxable property
879	in said district, not exempt by law, at the rate of taxation
880	adopted by said board of commissioners of said district for said
881	year and include in the warrant of the property appraiser and
882	attach to the assessment roll of taxes for said year and
883	included in the warrant of the property appraiser and attach to
884	the assessment roll of taxes for said county each year. The tax
885	collector shall collect such tax so levied by said board in the
886	same manner as other taxes are collected, and shall pay the same
887	over to the Board of Commissioners of South Broward Hospital
888	District within the time and in the manner prescribed by law for
889	the payment by the tax collector of county taxes to the county
890	depository. It shall be the duty of the Florida Department of
891	Revenue to assess and levy on all the railroad lines and
892	railroad property situated or located in said district,
893	including as well all telephone lines. The amount of each said
894	levy of each said county or state taxes and the said taxes shall
895	be assessed by the same officer respectfully as are county taxes
896	upon such property, and such taxes shall be remitted by the
897	collecting officer to the Board of Commissioners of South
898	Broward Hospital District. All such taxes shall be held by said
899	board of commissioners and paid out by them as provided in this
900	act. The board is authorized to pay necessary expenses to the
901	aforenamed officers for the assessment and collection of taxes
902	on a reasonable fee basis.
903	Section 30.  The board is authorized to pay from the funds
904	of the district all expenses of the organization of said board
905	and all expenses necessarily incurred with the formation of said
906	district and all other reasonable and necessary expenses,
907	including the fees and expenses of an attorney in the
908	transaction of the business of the district, and in carrying out
909	and accomplishing the purposes of the act. This section,
910	however, shall not be construed to remit or instruct any of the
911	powers vested in said board of commissioners by any other
912	section or provision of this act.
913	Section 31.  At least once in each year the board of
914	commissioners shall publish once in some newspaper published in
915	said district a complete detailed statement of all moneys
916	received and disbursed by them since the creation of the
917	district as to the first published statement and since the last
918	published statement as to any other year. Such statements shall
919	also show the several sources from which said funds were
920	received and shall show the balance on hand at the time of the
921	published statement. It shall show a complete statement of the
922	condition of the district.
923	Section 32.  Each hospital or clinic established under this
924	act shall be for the use and benefit of the residents of this
925	district. Such residents shall be admitted to such hospital or
926	clinic and be entitled to hospitalization, subject, however, to
927	the rules and regulations prescribed by the board of
928	commissioners, which rules and regulations are effective as of
929	the date of admission of a patient or patients to said hospital
930	or clinic. Such hospital or clinic may care for and treat
931	without charge to patients who are found by the board of
932	commissioners to be indigent. Such board may collect from
933	patients financially able, such charges as the board of
934	commissioners may from time to time establish. The board of
935	commissioners may exclude from treatment and care any person
936	having a communicable or contagious disease, where such disease
937	may be a detriment to the best interests of such hospital or
938	clinic or a source of contagion or infection to the patient in
939	its care, unless such hospital has a separate building or ward
940	for the special treatment of such patients, and can properly and
941	with safety to the other patients retain such communicable or
942	contagious case in such separate ward or building. Said board of
943	commissioners may extend the privileges and use of such hospital
944	or clinic to nonresidents of such district upon such terms and
945	conditions as the said board may from time to time by its rules
946	and regulations provide. Provided, however, that the residents
947	of the district wherein such hospital or clinic is located,
948	shall have first claim to admission.
949	Section 33.  Realizing that factors other than professional
950	must enter into the qualification of those who practice medicine
951	and surgery, the Board of Commissioners of said South Broward
952	Hospital District are hereby authorized and empowered to set up
953	rules, regulations, and bylaws for the operation of the hospital
954	and the hospital staff; the board of commissioners are
955	authorized to give, grant, or revoke licenses and privileges of
956	staff members so that the welfare and health of patients and the
957	best interests of the hospital may at all times be best served.
958	The board of commissioners of the said district are further
959	authorized and empowered to set up rules and regulations for the
960	control of all professional and unprofessional employees of the
961	hospital, which terms shall include nurses on general duty or on
962	private duty attending patients, and all parties in the hospital
963	either as employees or in any manner in attendance of patients.
964	Section 34.  It is intended that the provisions of this act
965	shall be liberally construed for accomplishing the work
966	authorized and provided for or intended to be provided for in
967	this act, and where strict construction would result in the
968	defeat of the accomplishment of any part of the work authorized
969	by this act, and a liberal construction would permit or assist
970	in the accomplishment, thereof, the liberal construction shall
971	be chosen.
972	Section 35.  The Board of County Commissioners of Broward
973	County are hereby authorized, empowered, and required upon the
974	petition of not less than 25 qualified electors owning real
975	property in the territory covered by said South Broward Hospital
976	District, to call and hold an election within said district
977	after giving not less than 30 days' notice of the time and place
978	within such district where such an election will be held. All
979	qualified electors owning real property in the territory covered
980	by said South Broward Hospital District shall be entitled to
981	vote at said election, and the result of said election shall be
982	reported by the manager thereof to the Board of County
983	Commissioners of Broward County, who shall canvas the returns
984	and declare the results thereof. If a majority of the qualified
985	electors voting at the said election shall vote in favor of the
986	approval and ratification of this act, then this act shall
987	immediately become effective. The sole questions to be voted on
988	at said election shall be the ratification or rejection of all
989	of the terms and provisions of this act.
990	Section 36.  Any clause or section of this act which for
991	any reason may be held or declared invalid may be eliminated and
992	the remaining portion or portions thereof shall be and remain in
993	full force and be valid, as if such invalid clause or section
994	had not been incorporated therein.
995	Section 37.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section
996	218.33, Florida Statutes, the fiscal year of South Broward
997	Hospital District shall commence May 1 and end on April 30 of
998	each calendar year.
999	Section 38.  (1)  The bonds of the district may bear such
1000	rate or rates of interest, including a variable rate of
1001	interest, and may be sold at par or at such premium or discount
1002	as the board shall determine, as shall not, taking into account
1003	the stated interest rate and any discount or premium, cause the
1004	average net interest cost rate to exceed the maximum average net
1005	interest cost rate permitted by section 215.84, Florida
1006	Statutes, or any interest rate, or average net interest cost
1007	rate, per annum permitted by general law amending or superseding
1008	section 215.84, Florida Statutes.
1009	(2)  The procedures for the sale of general obligation
1010	bonds or revenue bonds, as defined in section 218.385, Florida
1011	Statutes, of the district shall be governed by section 218.385,
1012	Florida Statutes, or by any general law amending or superseding
1013	section 218.385, Florida Statutes.
1014	Section 39.  In addition to any investment authorized by
1015	general law, and to the extent created by the State
1016	Constitution, the Board of Commissioners of the South Broward
1017	Hospital District shall be and is hereby authorized and
1018	empowered to invest any funds in its control or possession in
1019	accordance with an investment policy approved by the board which
1020	mandates prudent investment practices which shall include, among
1021	other items, the investment objectives and permitted securities
1022	of the policy. Such investment policy shall be designed to
1023	maximize the financial return to the fund consistent with the
1024	risks incumbent in each investment and shall be designed to
1025	preserve the appropriate diversification of the portfolio.
1026	Accordingly, the following instruments are authorized for
1027	investment:
1028	(1)  In the trust fund known as Local Government Surplus
1029	Funds Trust Fund as created and established by section 218.405,
1030	Florida Statutes.
1031	(2)  Bankers' acceptances which are drawn upon and accepted
1032	by a commercial bank which is a member bank of the Federal
1033	Reserve System maintaining capital accounts in excess of 7.5
1034	percent of total assets, and which member bank of its holding
1035	company carries a credit rating in one of the two highest
1036	alphabetical categories from at least two nationally recognized
1037	debt rating agencies.
1038	(3)  Commercial paper of prime quality rated by at least
1039	two nationally recognized debt rating agencies in the highest
1040	letter and numerical rating of each agency. If not so rated,
1041	such prime quality commercial paper may be purchased if secured
1042	by a letter of credit provided by a commercial bank, which bank
1043	or its holding company carries a credit rating in one of the two
1044	highest alphabetical categories from at least two nationally
1045	recognized debt rating agencies.
1046	(4)  Interest-bearing bonds, debentures, and other such
1047	evidence of indebtedness with a fixed maturity of any domestic
1048	corporation within the United States which is listed on any one
1049	or more of the recognized national stock exchanges in the United
1050	States which is listed on any one or more of the recognized
1051	national stock exchanges in the United States and conforms with
1052	the periodic reporting requirements under the Securities
1053	Exchange Act of 1934. Such obligations shall either carry
1054	ratings in one of the two highest classifications of at least
1055	two nationally recognized debt rating agencies or be secured by
1056	a letter of credit provided by a commercial bank, which bank or
1057	its holding company carries a credit rating in one of the two
1058	highest alphabetical categories from at least two nationally
1059	recognized debt rating agencies.
1060	(5)  Negotiable direct obligations of, or obligations the
1061	principal and interest of which are unconditionally guaranteed
1062	by, the United States Government and obligations of the Federal
1063	Farm Credit Banks, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporations, or
1064	Federal Home Loan Bank or its district banks, including Federal
1065	Home Loan Mortgage Corporation participation certificates or
1066	obligations guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage
1067	Association, which are purchased and sold under repurchase
1068	agreements and reverse repurchase agreements. Repurchase
1069	agreements and reverse repurchase agreements may be entered into
1070	only with a member bank of the Federal Reserve System or primary
1071	dealer in United States Government Securities. Further, any such
1072	repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements shall be
1073	fully collaterized by the type of securities which are named in
1074	this subsection. Securities purchased or repurchased by the
1075	South Broward Hospital District shall be delivered to the South
1076	Broward Hospital District or its agent versus payment.
1077	(6)  Purchase of options so as to engage in bona fide
1078	hedging activities for the purpose of protecting the asset value
1079	of the underlying portfolio. However, the underlying security
1080	(that is, the security that must be delivered if a put option or
1081	call option contract is exercised) shall be negotiable direct
1082	obligations of, or obligations the principal and interest of
1083	which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States
1084	Government and obligations of the Federal Farm Credit Banks,
1085	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporations, or Federal Loan Bank or
1086	its district banks, including Federal Home Loan Mortgage
1087	Corporation participation certificates, or obligations
1088	guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association.
1089	Further, the options of said underlying securities shall be
1090	traded on a securities exchange or board of trade regulated by
1091	the Securities Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures
1092	Trading Commission.
1093	Section 40.  (1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of part
1094	III of chapter 163, Florida Statutes, the district is not a
1095	?public body? or ?taxing authority,? as those terms are used in
1096	part III, chapter 163, Florida Statutes.
1097	(2)  This section shall not apply with respect to any
1098	geographic area approved as appropriate for community
1099	redevelopment by a resolution or ordinance adopted pursuant to
1100	section 163.355, Florida Statutes, by a governing body prior to
1101	January 1, 1998, or to any geographic area approved by the
1102	governing body pursuant to section 163.355, Florida Statutes, as
1103	a community redevelopment area prior to January 1, 1998.
1104	However, this section shall apply to any geographic area
1105	approved as appropriate for community redevelopment or added to
1106	a community redevelopment area by resolution or ordinance of a
1107	governing body adopted on or after January 1, 1998.  The terms
1108	?governing body? and ?community redevelopment area? mean the
1109	same as in part III, chapter 163, Florida Statutes.
1110	Section 4.  It is intended that the provisions of this
1111	action shall be liberally construed for accomplishment of the
1112	work authorized and provided for or intended to be provided for
1113	by this act, and where strict construction would permit or
1114	assist in the accomplishment of any apart of the work authorized
1115	by this act, the liberal construction shall be chosen.
1116	Section 5.  All acts and proceedings of the circuit court
1117	taken by, for, and on behalf of the district since the creation
1118	thereof, and all of the acts and proceedings of the board of
1119	commissioners, and all other officers and agents of the
1120	district, and of the county, acting for and on behalf of the
1121	district, and any and all tax levies and assessments which have
1122	been made by the board of commissioners for and on behalf of the
1123	district, are each and every one of them, and each and every
1124	part thereof, hereby ratified.
1125	Section 6.  If any section, subsection, sentence, clause,
1126	or phrase of this act is held to be unconstitutional, such
1127	holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions
1128	of the act, the Legislature hereby declaring that it would have
1129	passed this act and each section, subsection, sentence, clause,
1130	and phrase thereof, irrespective of any other separate section,
1131	subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase thereof, and
1132	irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections,
1133	subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases thereof may be
1134	declared unconstitutional.
1135	Section 7.  Chapter 24415 (1947), Laws of Florida, which
1136	was approved by the electors for the district in referendum held
1137	on May 22, 1950, is repealed; provided, however, that, as
1138	provided in section 189.429(3), Florida Statutes, nothing in
1139	this act, including specifically this section 7 shall modify,
1140	amend, or alter any covenants, contract, or other obligations of
1141	the district or board of commissioners with respect to the
1142	district?s bonded indebtedness; and affect the ability of the
1143	board of commissioners and district to levy and collect taxes as
1144	permitted under prior law and herein.  Chapters 24415 (1947),
1145	59-1125, 59-1126, 59-1128, 61-1925, 61-1932, 61-1935, 63-1180,
1146	65-1296, 65-1339, 67-1164, 69-910, 70-618, 71-566, 71-577, 72-
1147	494, 74-436, 74-450, 75-346, 75-349, 76-337, 76-339, 79-431, 80-
1148	459, 80-466, 80-467, 80-469, 81-351, 82-269, 83-378, 84-400, 90-
1149	488, and 99-423, Laws of Florida, are hereby repealed.
1150	Section 8.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.