(70 ILCS 910/1) (from Ch. 23, par. 1251) Sec. 1. This Act may be cited as the Hospital District Law. (Source: P.A. 86-1475.)

(70 ILCS 910/2) (from Ch. 23, par. 1252) Sec. 2. The establishment, maintenance and operation of safe and accessible hospitals within the State of Illinois and the creation of Hospital Districts having powers necessary or desirable for the establishment and continued maintenance and operation of such hospitals are declared and determined to be in the interest of public health. (Source: Laws 1949, p. 361.)

(70 ILCS 910/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 1253) Sec. 3. (a) "Hospital" means any hospital for in-patient and out-patient medical or surgical care of persons in need thereof. (b) "Public Hospital" means a hospital owned by a Hospital District or other public agency which is used or is intended for use by the public including paupers. (c) "Facilities" means and includes real estate and any and all forms of tangible and intangible personal property and services used or useful as an aid, or constituting an advantage or convenience to the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of a public hospital. "Facilities" shall also include, but not be limited to, any clinics, dispensaries, physician offices, surgery centers, diagnostic facilities, congregate housing units, assisted living units, sheltered care facilities, and ambulance facilities. (d) "Municipality" means any city, village or incorporated town of the State of Illinois. (e) "Hospital District" means a municipal corporation created and established under Section 4 of this Act. "District" and "Hospital District" are synonymous. (f) "Board of Directors" and "Board" mean the board of directors of an established District or a District proposed to be established. (g) "Public Agency" means any municipality, county, township, tuberculosis sanitarium district, or political subdivision that maintains a public hospital. (Source: P.A. 92-534, eff. 5-14-02.)

(70 ILCS 910/4) (from Ch. 23, par. 1254) Sec. 4. A Hospital District may be created, incorporated and managed as provided in this Act and may exercise the powers herein granted or necessarily implied. A Hospital District may include municipalities or territory not in municipalities or both or territory in one or more counties; provided, that the provisions of this Act shall not be effective in counties having a population of more than 1,000,000 inhabitants. The territory of any municipality shall not be divided and the territory contained within the corporate limits of an existing Hospital District shall not be incorporated in another Hospital District. (Source: Laws 1965, p. 2148.)

(70 ILCS 910/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 1255) Sec. 5. Wherever the creation of a Hospital District is desired, 2,500 or more of the voters residing within the area or 10% of the legal voters residing within the area, whichever is higher, may file with the circuit clerk of the county in which the territory or the greater part thereof is situated, a petition requesting the creation thereof, addressed to the circuit court of the county. In case such area includes 2 or more civil townships (or congressional townships in counties under commission form of government) or parts thereof, such petition shall be signed by 10% of the legal voters residing in each such township or part thereof. In case the proposed District, which shall be contiguous, is situated in 2 or more counties, the petition shall be filed in the office of the circuit clerk of the county in which the greater part of the area is situated, and the circuit court of the county shall set the petition for hearing. The petition shall set forth (1) a description of the territory to be embraced in the proposed District, (2) the names of the municipalities located within the area, (3) the name of the proposed District, (4) the population of the district which shall not be less than 25,000 inhabitants unless the district includes at least one entire county or at least 6 contiguous townships within a county or adjoining counties, in which event the population of the district shall not be less than 10,000 inhabitants, and (5) a request that the question be submitted to the electors residing within the limits of the proposed Hospital District whether they will establish a Hospital District under this Act to be known as .... Hospital District for the purpose of constructing and maintaining a public hospital. The petitioners in and by the petition shall designate one or more persons to represent them on the petition, and in the proceedings thereon in the circuit court, with authority to amend, to move to dismiss, or to withdraw the petition. The circuit court shall set the petition for hearing within not less than 30 nor more than 40 days after the filing of the petition with the circuit clerk. Notice shall be given by the circuit court of the time and place where the hearing will be held, by publication on 3 separate days in one or more newspapers having a general circulation within the territory proposed to be incorporated as a Hospital District, the first of which publications shall be not less than 20 days prior to the date set for the hearing and if there is no such newspaper, then such notice shall be posted in 10 of the most public places in such territory, not less than 20 days prior to the date set for the hearing. This notice shall include a description of the territory as set out in the petition, names of municipalities located therein and the name of the proposed District and the question of creating such area into a Hospital District. The filing fee on the petition and costs of printing and publication or posting of notices of public hearing thereon shall be paid in advance by the petitioners, and, if a district be organized under this Act, they shall be reimbursed out of the funds received by the District from taxation or other sources. (Source: P.A. 85-1362.)

(70 ILCS 910/6) (from Ch. 23, par. 1256) Sec. 6. The court may continue the hearing on the petition from time to time. Should it appear at such public hearing that a part only of any municipality is included within the territory described in the petition then the petition shall be amended upon motion of the petitioners either to include or exclude all of such municipality, and such motion shall be allowed by the court. Upon such public hearing the petitioners may also move to otherwise amend the petition or to dismiss or to withdraw it, and any such motion shall be allowed by the court. If such petition is not dismissed or withdrawn, the court by written order shall find and determine whether such territory meets the requirements of this Act, and the sufficiency of the petition as filed or amended, and of the proceedings thereon. Should 2 or more petitions covering in part the same territory be filed prior to the public hearing, such petitions shall be consolidated for public hearing, and hearing upon the first petition which is filed may be continued to permit the giving of notice of any such subsequent petition or petitions. At the public hearing upon such petitions, the petitioners in the petition first filed may move to amend such petition to include any part of the territory described in the subsequent petition or petitions, either as originally filed or as amended. Any such motion shall be allowed by the court. The public hearing shall proceed upon the first petition as originally filed or as so amended, and further proceedings upon any such other petitions subsequently filed shall be stayed and held in abeyance until the termination of all proceedings upon the first petition, or any such petition may be dismissed or withdrawn upon motion of the petitioners therein by their representatives. If such territory, petition and proceedings meet the requirements of this Act, the court shall in, and by the order finding and determining the sufficiency of the petition and that the territory meets the requirements of the Act or by a separate order, order the proposition submitted to referendum in accordance with the general election law. The clerk of the circuit court shall certify the order and the proposition to the appropriate election officials who shall submit the proposition to the voters at an election in accordance with the general election law. (Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

(70 ILCS 910/7) (from Ch. 23, par. 1257) Sec. 7. In addition to the requirements of the general election law, notice of the referendum shall state briefly the purpose of the referendum and shall include a description of the territory. The notice shall further state that any such District upon its establishment shall have the powers, objects and purposes provided by this Act, including the power to levy a tax of not to exceed .075 per cent of value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all taxable property within the area of the District, for hospital operation and maintenance and other corporate purposes, and the power to issue tax secured bonds in the manner provided in this Act. Each legal voter residing within the territory shall have a right to cast a ballot at such election. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form: -------------------------------------------------------------- Shall "An Act providing for the creation and operation of Hospital Districts" approved July 15, 1949, be adopted, and the.... Hospital District YES be established? If established, the Hospital District will have the powers, objects and purposes provided --------------------- by the Act, including the power to levy a tax of not to exceed .075 per cent of the value of taxable property, as equalized NO or assessed by the Department of Revenue, for hospital operation and maintenance and other corporate purposes.-------------------------------------------------------------- The court shall cause the order determining and declaring results of the election to be entered of record in the court and a certified copy thereof shall be filed with the circuit clerk of each such other county who shall cause the same to be filed in the records of the court of such county. (Source: P.A. 83-343.)

(70 ILCS 910/8) (from Ch. 23, par. 1258) Sec. 8. If a majority of the voters voting upon the question of the adoption of this Act and the establishment of a Hospital District shall be favorable, the inhabitants thereof shall be deemed to have accepted the provisions of this Act, and the territory shall thenceforth be deemed an organized Hospital District under this Act, having the name stated in the petition which shall be evidenced by an order to be entered of record by the court. (Source: Laws 1967, p. 3716.)

(70 ILCS 910/9) (from Ch. 23, par. 1259) Sec. 9. Within 90 days after the order declaring the result of such election has been entered, the Board of Directors shall cause a certified copy of such order to be filed in the office of the county clerk of each county in which the District is situated and in the office of the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State shall thereupon issue a certificate of incorporation to such District, which certificate of incorporation shall be recorded in the office of the recorder of the county in which the proceedings were had. Such requirements of filing and recording are directory, and failure to file within apt time shall not vitiate such organization. (Source: P.A. 83-358.)

(70 ILCS 910/10) (from Ch. 23, par. 1260) Sec. 10. Petitions for annexation; petitions to detach previously annexed territory. A petition for annexation of land to a Hospital District shall be signed by not less than 10% or 50 voters, whichever is fewer, residing within the territory therein described proposed for annexation and shall be filed with the circuit clerk of the county in which the District or the greater portion thereof is situated, and shall be addressed to the circuit court. A hearing shall be held thereon as nearly as possible as in the case of a formation petition. If upon the hearing, the court finds that the petition is sufficient it shall certify the proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question to the voters at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be substantially in the following form: -------------------------------------------------------------- Shall (description of territory) YES be annexed to the.... Hospital ------------------------ District?NO-------------------------------------------------------------- If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition in the District and in the territory described in the petition respectively, are in favor of annexation the court shall by order declare the territory annexed and shall describe the altered boundaries of the District. In addition to the above, within 60 days after the entry of an order by a court under Section 8 of this Act evidencing the organization of a Hospital District, not less than 50% of the legal voters residing within any municipality or any civil township (or congressional township in counties under commission form of government) or such fractional part of either type of township as is included within such District may file a petition for the detachment of such territory with the circuit clerk of the county in which the District or the greater portion thereof is situated addressed to the circuit court for such county; provided, that such detachment is not permissible if it will destroy the contiguity of the territory of the District. In the case of a hospital district created prior to September 15, 1950 with territory located partially within two different counties, where less than 10% of the population of the district is located in one county, the legal voters residing in that part of the hospital district located within the county representing less than 10% of the population of said hospital district may file a petition for detachment at any time. A hearing shall be held thereon as nearly as possible as in the case of a formation petition. If upon the hearing, the court finds that the petition is sufficient it shall certify the proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question to the voters at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be substantially in the following form: -------------------------------------------------------------- Shall the (described) territoryYES be detached from the.... Hospital ---------------------- District? NO-------------------------------------------------------------- If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition are in favor of detachment of the territory, the court shall by order declare the territory detached and shall describe the altered boundaries of the District. If territory is disconnected from a district, the property owners in such territory are still responsible for the proportionate debt of any outstanding bonded indebtedness at the time of disconnection. Also in addition, within 24 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, the legal voters residing within a hospital district may file a petition for detachment from the hospital district where (i) the territory sought to be detached was added to the hospital district by way of annexation; and (ii) the equalized assessed valuation of the territory sought to be detached constitutes less than 25% of the equalized assessed valuation of the hospital district. The petition must be signed by not less than 5% of the legal voters of the territory sought to be detached. Detachment is not permissible if it would destroy the contiguity of the territory of the District. A hearing shall be held on the petition as nearly as possible as in the case of a formation petition. If upon the hearing, the court finds that the petition is sufficient, it shall certify the proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question to the legal voters of the territory proposed to be detached at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be substantially in the following form: -------------------------------------------------------------- Shall the (described) territoryYES be detached from the.... Hospital ---------------------- District? NO-------------------------------------------------------------- If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition are in favor of detachment of the territory, the court shall by order declare the territory detached and shall describe the altered boundaries of the District. If territory is disconnected from a district, the property owners in that territory are still responsible for the proportionate debt of any outstanding bonded indebtedness at the time of disconnection. (Source: P.A. 91-449, eff. 8-6-99.)

(70 ILCS 910/11) (from Ch. 23, par. 1261) Sec. 11. Every District so established shall be governed by a board of 9 directors appointed in districts wholly contained within a single county by the presiding officer of the county board with the advice and consent of the county board. If the district is located in more than one county, the number of directors who are residents of a county shall be in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the number of residents of the district who reside in that county in relation to the total population of the district. A director appointed initially in a new district shall be a resident of whichever county is entitled to representation in order to bring about the proportional representation required herein, and he shall be appointed by the county board of that county, or in the case of a home rule county as defined by Article VII, Section 6 of the Constitution of 1970, the chief executive officer of that county, with the advice and consent of the county board. Upon expiration of the term of a director who is in office on the effective date of this amendatory Act, the successor shall be a resident of whichever county is entitled to such representation in order to bring about the proportional representation required herein, and he shall be appointed by the county board of that county, or in the case of a home rule county as defined by Article VII, Section 6 of the Constitution of 1970, the chief executive officer of that county, with the advice and consent of the county board. Thereafter, each director shall be succeeded by a resident of the same county who shall be appointed by the same appointing authority; however, the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply to the appointment of the successor to each director who is in office at the time of the publication of each decennial Federal census of population. Each director should be selected because of his particular interest in the field of public health. The appropriate appointing authority in its selection of directors shall give due consideration to a fair representation throughout the District. A director must reside within the territory of the District. Should any director cease to so reside, then his office shall be deemed vacated, and shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the term as hereinafter provided. All initial appointments of directors shall be made within 60 days after the determination of the result of the election. Each appointment shall be in writing and filed and made a matter of record in the office of the county clerk wherein the organization proceedings are filed. A director shall qualify within 10 days after appointment by acceptance and the taking of the constitutional oath of office, both to be in writing and similarly filed for record in the office of the county clerk. In the appointment of the first board of directors of such District, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint 3 members to serve for terms of one year, 3 for terms of 2 years and 3 for terms of 3 years. All members appointed thereafter shall be appointed for terms of 3 years except where an appointment is made to fill a vacancy in which case the appointment shall be for the remaining term of the position vacant. A director shall continue to serve after the expiration of his term until his successor has been appointed and qualified. (Source: P.A. 79-1454.)

(70 ILCS 910/12) (from Ch. 23, par. 1262) Sec. 12. All courts shall take judicial notice of the existence of a Hospital District and of the area of jurisdiction of an existing District. (Source: Laws 1949, p. 361.)

(70 ILCS 910/13) (from Ch. 23, par. 1263) Sec. 13. Qualification and removal of directors. (a) The qualification of individuals to serve on the board of directors of any Hospital District shall be determined in accordance with Sections 3 and 3.2 of the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. (a-5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), at least one member of the board of directors may be a member of a district hospital medical staff. (b) Should it appear to the appointing authority that any member of the board of directors of a Hospital District may be disqualified, guilty of misconduct or malfeasance in office or unwilling or unable to act, the appointing authority shall notify the member of that fact in writing and it shall then be the duty of the member to show cause why he should not be removed from office. Any such person shall be given a hearing by the circuit court and, after such hearing, if the circuit court finds such a charge should be sustained, it shall remove the person so charged from office, and a vacancy shall thereupon exist for the unexpired term of such office. (Source: P.A. 90-197, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 910/14) (from Ch. 23, par. 1264) Sec. 14. The board of directors of a District shall possess and exercise all of its legislative and executive powers. Within thirty days after the appointment of the initial directors, the board shall meet. The time and place of the first meeting of the board shall be designated by the circuit court. At its first meeting the board shall elect a chairman from its members and select a secretary, treasurer and such officers or employees as it deems expedient or necessary for the accomplishment of its corporate objects. The secretary and treasurer need not be members of the Board. At the meeting the board, by ordinance, shall define the first and subsequent fiscal years of the District, and shall adopt a corporate seal and by-laws, which shall determine the times for the annual election of officers and of other regular and special meetings of the board and shall contain the rules for the transaction of other business of the District and for amending such by-laws. Each director of any such District shall devote such time to the duties of such office as the faithful discharge thereof may require and shall serve without compensation. (Source: Laws 1967, p. 3716.)

(70 ILCS 910/15) (from Ch. 23, par. 1265) Sec. 15. A Hospital District shall constitute a municipal corporation and body politic separate and apart from any other municipality, the State of Illinois or any other public or governmental agency and shall have and exercise the following governmental powers, and all other powers incidental, necessary, convenient, or desirable to carry out and effectuate such express powers. 1. To establish and maintain a hospital and hospital facilities within or outside its corporate limits, and to construct, acquire, develop, expand, extend and improve any such hospital or hospital facility. If a Hospital District utilizes its authority to levy a tax pursuant to Section 20 of this Act for the purpose of establishing and maintaining hospitals or hospital facilities, such District shall be prohibited from establishing and maintaining hospitals or hospital facilities located outside of its district unless so authorized by referendum. To approve the provision of any service and to approve any contract or other arrangement not prohibited by a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act, incorporated under the General Not-For-Profit Corporation Act, and exempt from taxation under paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code. 2. To acquire land in fee simple, rights in land and easements upon, over or across land and leasehold interests in land and tangible and intangible personal property used or useful for the location, establishment, maintenance, development, expansion, extension or improvement of any such hospital or hospital facility. Such acquisition may be by dedication, purchase, gift, agreement, lease, use or adverse possession or by condemnation. 3. To operate, maintain and manage such hospital and hospital facility, and to make and enter into contracts for the use, operation or management of and to provide rules and regulations for the operation, management or use of such hospital or hospital facility. Such contracts may include the lease by the District of all or any portion of its facilities to a not-for-profit corporation organized by the District's board of directors. The rent to be paid pursuant to any such lease shall be in an amount deemed appropriate by the board of directors. Any of the remaining assets which are not the subject of such a lease may be conveyed and transferred to the not-for-profit corporation organized by the District's board of directors provided that the not-for-profit corporation agrees to discharge or assume such debts, liabilities, and obligations of the District as determined to be appropriate by the District's board of directors. 4. To fix, charge and collect reasonable fees and compensation for the use or occupancy of such hospital or any part thereof, or any hospital facility, and for nursing care, medicine, attendance, or other services furnished by such hospital or hospital facilities, according to the rules and regulations prescribed by the board from time to time. 5. To borrow money and to issue general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, notes, certificates, or other evidences of indebtedness for the purpose of accomplishing any of its corporate purposes, subject to compliance with any conditions or limitations set forth in this Act or the Health Facilities Planning Act or otherwise provided by the constitution of the State of Illinois and to execute, deliver, and perform mortgages and security agreements to secure such borrowing. 6. To employ or enter into contracts for the employment of any person, firm, or corporation, and for professional services, necessary or desirable for the accomplishment of the corporate objects of the District or the proper administration, management, protection or control of its property. 7. To maintain such hospital for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area comprising the District who are sick, injured, or maimed regardless of race, creed, religion, sex, national origin or color, and to adopt such reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary to render the use of the hospital of the greatest benefit to the greatest number; to exclude from the use of the hospital all persons who wilfully disregard any of the rules and regulations so established; to extend the privileges and use of the hospital to persons residing outside the area of the District upon such terms and conditions as the board of directors prescribes by its rules and regulations. 8. To police its property and to exercise police powers in respect thereto or in respect to the enforcement of any rule or regulation provided by the ordinances of the District and to employ and commission police officers and other qualified persons to enforce the same. The use of any such hospital or hospital facility of a District shall be subject to the reasonable regulation and control of the District and upon such reasonable terms and conditions as shall be established by its board of directors. A regulatory ordinance of a District adopted under any provision of this Section may provide for a suspension or revocation of any rights or privileges within the control of the District for a violation of any such regulatory ordinance. Nothing in this Section or in other provisions of this Act shall be construed to authorize the District or board to establish or enforce any regulation or rule in respect to hospitalization or in the operation or maintenance of such hospital or any hospital facilities within its jurisdiction which is in conflict with any federal or state law or regulation applicable to the same subject matter. 9. To provide for the benefit of its employees group life, health, accident, hospital and medical insurance, or any combination of such types of insurance, and to further provide for its employees by the establishment of a pension or retirement plan or system; to effectuate the establishment of any such insurance program or pension or retirement plan or system, a Hospital District may make, enter into or subscribe to agreements, contracts, policies or plans with private insurance companies. Such insurance may include provisions for employees who rely on treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer for healing in accord with the tenets and practice of a well-recognized religious denomination. The board of directors of a Hospital District may provide for payment by the District of a portion of the premium or charge for such insurance or for a pension or retirement plan for employees with the employee paying the balance of such premium or charge. If the board of directors of a Hospital District undertakes a plan pursuant to which the Hospital District pays a portion of such premium or charge, the board shall provide for the withholding and deducting from the compensation of such employees as consent to joining such insurance program or pension or retirement plan or system, the balance of the premium or charge for such insurance or plan or system. If the board of directors of a Hospital District does not provide for a program or plan pursuant to which such District pays a portion of the premium or charge for any group insurance program or pension or retirement plan or system, the board may provide for the withholding and deducting from the compensation of such employees as consent thereto the premium or charge for any group life, health, accident, hospital and medical insurance or for any pension or retirement plan or system. A Hospital District deducting from the compensation of its employees for any group insurance program or pension or retirement plan or system, pursuant to this Section, may agree to receive and may receive reimbursement from the insurance company for the cost of withholding and transferring such amount to the company. 10. Except as provided in Section 15.3, to sell at public auction or by sealed bid and convey any real estate held by the District which the board of directors, by ordinance adopted by at least 2/3rds of the members of the board then holding office, has determined to be no longer necessary or useful to, or for the best interests of, the District. An ordinance directing the sale of real estate shall include the legal description of the real estate, its present use, a statement that the property is no longer necessary or useful to, or for the best interests of, the District, the terms and conditions of the sale, whether the sale is to be at public auction or sealed bid, and the date, time, and place the property is to be sold at auction or sealed bids opened. Before making a sale by virtue of the ordinance, the board of directors shall cause notice of the proposal to sell to be published once each week for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper published, or, if none is published, having a general circulation, in the district, the first publication to be not less than 30 days before the day provided in the notice for the public sale or opening of bids for the real estate. The notice of the proposal to sell shall include the same information included in the ordinance directing the sale and shall advertise for bids therefor. A sale of property by public auction shall be held at the property to be sold at a time and date determined by the board of directors. The board of directors may accept the high bid or any other bid determined to be in the best interests of the district by a vote of 2/3rds of the board then holding office, but by a majority vote of those holding office, they may reject any and all bids. The chairman and secretary of the board of directors shall execute all documents necessary for the conveyance of such real property sold pursuant to the foregoing authority. 11. To establish and administer a program of loans for postsecondary students pursuing degrees in accredited public health-related educational programs at public institutions of higher education. If a student is awarded a loan, the individual shall agree to accept employment within the hospital district upon graduation from the public institution of higher education. For the purposes of this Act, "public institutions of higher education" means the University of Illinois; Southern Illinois University; Chicago State University; Eastern Illinois University; Governors State University; Illinois State University; Northeastern Illinois University; Northern Illinois University; Western Illinois University; the public community colleges of the State; and any other public colleges, universities or community colleges now or hereafter established or authorized by the General Assembly. The district's board of directors shall by resolution provide for eligibility requirements, award criteria, terms of financing, duration of employment accepted within the district and such other aspects of the loan program as its establishment and administration may necessitate. 12. To establish and maintain congregate housing units; to acquire land in fee simple and leasehold interests in land for the location, establishment, maintenance, and development of those housing units; to borrow funds and give debt instruments, real estate mortgages, and security interests in personal property, contract rights, and general intangibles; and to enter into any contract required for participation in any federal or State programs. (Source: P.A. 92-534, eff. 5-14-02; 92-611, eff. 7-3-02.)

(70 ILCS 910/15.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 1265.1) Sec. 15.1. A hospital district also has power to organize, join, incorporate, belong to, or participate in hospital service organizations organized as not for profit corporations or as co-operatives and organized solely for providing laundry services to member hospitals, institutions or facilities providing public health or nursing care services under a license granted by the State of Illinois. (Source: P.A. 77-114.)

(70 ILCS 910/15.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 1265.2) Sec. 15.2. Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act", approved by the Eighty-fourth General Assembly. (Source: P.A. 84-731.)

(70 ILCS 910/15.3) Sec. 15.3. Disposition of facilities. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, the board of directors of a Hospital District, by public or private offer, may provide for the transfer, sale, lease, or other disposition of a public hospital and its facilities, in whole or in part, as provided in this Section. (b) The board of directors, by resolution, may authorize a Hospital District to enter into contracts and agreements for the transfer, sale, lease, or other disposition, in whole or in part, at one time or from time to time of the public hospital and its facilities to a public or private corporation or other entity, hospital, health care facility, unit of local government, or institution of higher education, provided, unless the board of directors in the resolution expressly finds and determines otherwise, that the transfer, sale, lease, or other disposition does not adversely affect access to the hospital by inhabitants of the Hospital District. At least 10 days before the adoption of a resolution under this subsection, the board of directors shall make the proposed resolution conveniently available for public inspection and shall hold at least one public hearing on the proposed resolution. At least 10 days before the time of the public hearing, notice of the hearing shall be published in one or more newspapers having general circulation in the Hospital District. The notice shall state the date, time and place of the public hearing and the place where copies of the proposed resolution will be available for examination. (c) After entering into and giving effect to the contracts and agreements with respect to any transfer, sale, lease, or other disposition under subsection (b), the Hospital District may continue to exist and to own, operate, and maintain facilities, whether or not a public hospital of the Hospital District continues to exist after the transfer, sale, lease, or other disposition. In addition, the Hospital District may continue to exist and to exercise powers, functions, and authority under this Act as the board of directors may find desirable or necessary, for up to 3 years, to give effect to such transfer, sale, lease, or other disposition and, as applicable, related to the facilities to continue to be owned, operated, and maintained by the Hospital District. The board of directors of the Hospital District may continue the Hospital District for up to 3 years to initiate the ownership, operations, and maintenance of other facilities and thereafter to continue to own, operate, and maintain the other facilities. (d) If, before a transfer, sale, lease, or disposition of the public hospital under subsection (b), a labor organization has been recognized by the Hospital District as the exclusive representative of the majority of employees in a bargaining unit for purposes of collective bargaining, and if a transferee, purchaser, or lessor subject to the National Labor Relations Act retains or hires a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit, the purchaser or lessor shall recognize the labor organization as the exclusive representative of the majority of employees in that bargaining unit for purposes of collective bargaining, provided the labor organization makes a timely written assertion of its representational capacity to the transferee, purchaser or lessor. (Source: P.A. 92-534, eff. 5-14-02.)

(70 ILCS 910/15.4) Sec. 15.4. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Law, any power granted under this Law to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act. (Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(70 ILCS 910/16) (from Ch. 23, par. 1266) Sec. 16. In all cases where land in fee simple, rights in land, air or water, easements or other interests in land, air, or water or property or property rights are acquired by a District by condemnation, the procedure shall be, as nearly as may be, in accordance with that provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act. (Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(70 ILCS 910/17) (from Ch. 23, par. 1267) Sec. 17. Action of the board of directors of a Hospital District of a legislative character shall be in the form of an ordinance, and after adoption shall be filed with the secretary and shall be made a matter of public record in the office of the District. Other action of the board may be by resolution, motion or in other appropriate form, and executive or ministerial duties may be delegated to one or more directors or to an authorized officer, employee, agent, attorney, or other representative of the District. A majority of the directors appointed and qualified shall constitute a quorum to do business. The enacting clause of any ordinance shall be substantially as follows: "Be it ordained by the board of directors of.... Hospital District." (Source: P.A. 81-1509.)

(70 ILCS 910/18) (from Ch. 23, par. 1268) Sec. 18. The Board shall provide for the proper and safe keeping of its permanent records and for the recording of the corporate action of the District. It shall keep a true and accurate account of its receipts and an annual audit shall be made of its books, records and accounts. All officers and employees authorized to receive or retain the custody of money or to sign vouchers, checks, warrants or evidences of indebtedness binding upon the District shall furnish surety bond for the faithful performance of their duties and the faithful accounting for all moneys that may come into their hands in an amount to be fixed and in a form to be approved by the board. (Source: Laws 1949, p. 361.)

(70 ILCS 910/19) (from Ch. 23, par. 1269) Sec. 19. Whenever an ordinance shall be adopted by the board of directors of a District by a two-thirds vote of the membership to change the name of such District, a certified copy of such ordinance shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of the county wherein such District or any portion thereof is located and in the office of the Secretary of State and thereupon such change of name of such District shall be effective. (Source: Laws 1949, p. 361.)

(70 ILCS 910/20) (from Ch. 23, par. 1270) Sec. 20. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, every District created under this Act is empowered to levy and collect a general tax on all of the taxable property within the corporate limits of the District for the purposes of paying the cost of operating and maintaining the hospital or any hospital facility of the District, and any other corporate expenses of the District. The aggregate amount of such tax for one year, exclusive of the amount levied for bonded indebtedness or interest thereupon, shall not exceed the rate of .075 per cent of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all the taxable property in the District. The board of directors of any Hospital District shall annually within the first quarter of the fiscal year adopt an appropriation ordinance appropriating such sums of money as are deemed necessary to pay the costs of operating and maintaining the hospital facilities located within the corporate limits of the District and under the jurisdiction thereof and other expenses of the District and specifying the purpose of each appropriation made. After the adoption of the appropriation ordinance and on or before the first Tuesday in December of each year, the board of directors shall ascertain the total amount of the appropriations legally made which are to be provided for from the tax levy for that year. Then, by an ordinance specifying in detail the purposes for which such appropriations have been made and the amounts appropriated for such purposes, the board of directors shall levy not to exceed the total amount so ascertained upon all the property subject to taxation within the District as the same is assessed and equalized for state and county purposes for the current year. A certified copy of such ordinance shall be filed on or before the last Tuesday in December with the clerk of each county wherein the District or any part thereof is located. The provisions of the Illinois Municipal Budget Law shall have no application to Hospital Districts organized under this Act. No District shall levy and collect a tax pursuant to this Section in excess of the rate required to retire debt existing as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1983 if more than half of the territory of the District lies within a non home rule county with a population over 500,000 and if no part of the territory lies within a home rule county. (Source: P.A. 87-17.)

(70 ILCS 910/21) (from Ch. 23, par. 1271) Sec. 21. A District may secure the necessary funds to finance part or all of the cost of acquiring, establishing, constructing, developing, expanding, extending or further improving a hospital or hospital facilities within its corporate limits, through the issuance of bonds, the principal amount of which at any one time outstanding may not exceed 5.75% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all taxable property located within its corporate limits or, until January 1, 1983, if greater, the sum that is produced by multiplying the district's 1978 equalized assessed valuation by the debt limitation percentage in effect on January 1, 1979. However, no such District may issue bonds the principal amount of which, together with all other outstanding bonds, exceeds 1-1/2% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all taxable property located within its corporate limits, unless the proposition to issue such bonds has been submitted to the legal voters of such District at an election and has been approved by a majority of those voting upon the proposition. The question of issuing bonds in excess of 1-1/2% of the value of all taxable property located within the limits of the District must be submitted at an election. The Board of Directors shall certify the proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the proposition to the voters at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be substantially as follows: -------------------------------------------------------------- Shall.... Hospital District beYESauthorized to issue bonds in the amount ---------------------of $.... for the purpose of....? NO-------------------------------------------------------------- If a majority of the voters voting upon such question vote in favor thereof, the board of directors has the authority to adopt an ordinance providing for the issuance of the bonds. The ordinance must prescribe all details of the bonds and must state the time or times when bonds, and the interest thereon, become payable. The bonds are payable within 20 years from the date thereof and the interest payable thereon may not exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract. The ordinance must provide for the levy and collection of a direct annual tax upon all the taxable property within the corporate limits of such District sufficient to meet the principal and interest of the bonds as they mature, which tax is in addition to and in excess of any other tax authorized to be levied by the District. A certified copy of the ordinance providing for the issuance of bonds authorized by this Section must be filed with the county clerk of each county in which the District or any portion thereof is situated and constitutes the basis for the extension and collection of the tax necessary to pay the principal of and interest upon the bonds issued under the ordinance as they mature. Such bonds may be made registrable as to principal and may not be sold at less than par and accrued interest and are considered to be negotiable instruments. They must be executed by the chairman of the District and its secretary and must be sealed with the corporate seal of the District. The facsimile signatures of the chairman and the secretary of the District may be used on all interest coupons attached to the bonds instead of their actual signatures. In case any officer whose signature appears on the bonds, or any portion thereof, or in facsimile form to any coupons attached to the bonds, or any portion thereof, ceases to hold office before delivery of the bonds, his signature, nevertheless, is valid and sufficient for all purposes, as if he had remained in office until after the bonds had been delivered. A Hospital District may apply for and receive the grant or loan of money or other financial aid from the state or federal government or from any State or federal agency, department, bureau or board, necessary or useful for the undertaking, performance or execution of any of its corporate objects or purposes. Any such District may undertake the acquisition, establishment, construction, development or improvement of a hospital within its corporate limits and hospital facilities incidental or appurtenant thereto, in cooperation with or as a joint enterprise with the state or federal governments or with both the state and federal governments acting or represented by any State or federal agency, department, bureau or board. The District may not issue any bonds under this Section unless a public hearing, with adequate notice to the public, is held prior to the issuance of the bonds. Notice of the hearing giving the purpose, time and place of the hearing shall be published at least once, not more than 30 nor less than 15 days before the hearing, in one or more newspapers published in the district, and if there is none, in a newspaper published in the county and having general circulation in the district. No District shall issue bonds or levy and collect a tax pursuant to this Section other than to retire debt existing as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1983, if more than half of the territory of the District lies within a non home rule county with a population over 500,000 and if no part of the territory lies within a home rule county. With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts. (Source: P.A. 86-4.)

(70 ILCS 910/21.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 1271.1) Sec. 21.1. Without submitting the question to the voters of the district and without complying with Section 21 of this Act, a Hospital District may borrow money and issue its notes secured by and payable solely from unencumbered accounts receivable of the District as follows: Whenever the district considers it advisable and in the interest of the district to borrow funds secured by such accounts receivable, the Board may from time to time and pursuant to an appropriate ordinance issue notes to evidence such borrowings. Any ordinance authorizing the issuance of such notes shall specify the principal amount, denomination, rate of interest (a rate not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract), form of note, and such other terms as are necessary in connection with the issue of such notes. Notes shall mature in not to exceed 5 years from date of issue. Interest thereon shall be payable semiannually. There shall be attached to such ordinance a list of the accounts receivable pledged to the payment of principal of and interest on such notes. Each such note may be extended once for at least 3 years from its maturity date. The district may provide for the registration of the notes in the name of the owner either as to principal or interest or as to both principal and interest on such terms and conditions as its Board may determine by the ordinance authorizing their issue. No member of the Board or hospital administration shall have any personal economic interest in any notes issued in accordance with this Section. The notes shall be made redeemable at any time prior to maturity at the option of the district, in the manner and by the terms fixed by the ordinance authorizing the issuance thereof. The notes may be executed in the name of the district by the chairman of the Board and attested by the secretary thereof or shall be executed by such other officer or officers as may be designated in and by the ordinance authorizing the issue thereof and attested by the secretary thereof and be sealed with the district's corporate seal. All notes issued under this Section shall be payable solely from the accounts receivable pledged for the payment thereof and each note shall state that fact upon its face, and shall also state that it does not constitute an obligation of the district within the meaning of any provision of the Constitution or statutes of the State of Illinois and that no holder of any such note may compel any exercise of the taxing power of the Hospital District to pay such note or interest thereon. With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts. (Source: P.A. 86-4.)

(70 ILCS 910/21.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 1271.2) Sec. 21.2. The corporate authorities of any Hospital District may enter into installment purchase and lease agreements and issue debt certificates under subsection (b) of Section 17 of the Local Government Debt Reform Act and may issue and sell revenue bonds, payable from the revenue derived from the operation of the hospital, for the purpose of (1) constructing, reconstructing, repairing, remodeling, extending, equipping, or improving a hospital building, buildings, or facilities and acquiring a site or sites for a hospital building, buildings, or facilities, (1.5) financing operations and working cash, or (2) refunding any such revenue bonds theretofore issued from time to time when considered necessary or advantageous in the public interest. These bonds shall be authorized by an ordinance without submission thereof to the electors of the Hospital District, shall mature at such time not to exceed 40 years from the date of issue, and bear such rate of interest not to exceed the greater of (i) the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, or (ii) 9% per annum, payable annually or semiannually, as the corporate authorities may determine, and may be sold by the corporate authorities in such manner as they deem best in the public interest. However, such bonds shall be sold at such price that the interest cost of the proceeds therefrom will not exceed the greater of (i) the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, or (ii) 9% per annum if issued on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, based on the average maturity of such bonds and computed according to standard tables of bond values. No member of the Board or hospital administration shall have any personal economic interest in any bonds issued in accordance with this Section. The corporate authorities of any such Hospital District availing itself of the provisions of this Section shall adopt an ordinance describing in a general way the building, buildings, or facilities, or additions or extensions thereto, to be constructed, reconstructed, repaired, remodeled, extended, equipped or improved, and the site or sites to be acquired. Such ordinance shall set out the estimated cost of such construction, reconstruction, repair, remodeling, extension, equipment, improvement or acquisition and fix the amount of revenue bonds proposed to be issued, the maturity, interest rate, and all details in respect thereof, including any provision for redemption prior to maturity, with or without premium, and upon such notice as may be provided by the ordinance. Such ordinance may also contain such provisions and covenants which shall be part of the contract between the Hospital District and the holders of such bonds as may be considered necessary and advisable as to the operation, maintenance, and management of the hospital or hospitals, the establishment and maintenance of sinking funds, reserve funds, and other special funds, including construction funds, the fixing and collection of rents, fees and charges for the use of the facilities of the hospital or hospitals sufficient to produce revenue adequate to maintain such funds and to pay the bonds at maturity and accruing interest thereon, the issuance thereafter of additional bonds payable from the revenues derived from the hospital or hospitals, the kind and amount of insurance, including use and occupancy insurance, if any, to be carried, the cost of which shall be payable only from the revenues derived from the hospital or hospitals and such other covenants deemed necessary or desirable to assure the successful operation and maintenance of the hospital or hospitals and the prompt payment of the principal of and interest upon the bonds so authorized. Revenue bonds issued under this Section shall be signed by the chairman and secretary of the Board or such other officers as the Board may by ordinance direct to sign such bonds, and shall be payable from revenue derived from the operation of the hospital or hospitals. These bonds may not in any event constitute an indebtedness of the Hospital District within the meaning of any constitutional provision or limitation. It shall be plainly written or printed on the face of each bond that the bond has been issued under the provisions of this Section, that the bond, including the interest thereon, is payable from the revenue pledged to the payment thereof, and that it does not constitute an indebtedness or obligation of the Hospital District within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation or provision. No holder of any such revenue bond may compel any exercise of the taxing power of the Hospital District to pay such bond or interest thereon. The District may not issue any bonds under this Section unless a public hearing, with adequate notice to the public, is held prior to the issuance of the bonds. Notice of the hearing giving the purpose, time and place of the hearing shall be published at least once, not more than 30 nor less than 15 days before the hearing, in one or more newspapers published in the district, and if there is none, in a newspaper published in the county and having general circulation in the district. With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts. (Source: P.A. 92-611, eff. 7-3-02.)

(70 ILCS 910/21.3) Sec. 21.3. Lines of credit. (a) A hospital district may enter into a line of credit secured by and payable from one or more of these sources: property taxes, unencumbered accounts receivable, or other revenues, in an amount not to exceed the greater of the following amounts if the source is pledged: (i) 85% of the amount of property taxes most recently levied, (ii) 85% of unencumbered accounts receivable of the district (in substantially the manner set forth in Section 21.1 of this Act), (iii) 85% of other revenues (in substantially the manner set forth in Section 21.2 of this Act), or (iv) 85% of amounts unpaid under third-party reimbursement or payment programs (including but not limited to State or federal Medicare or Medicaid payments or programs). All moneys so borrowed shall be repaid within 24 months.(b) Before establishing a line of credit under this Section, the hospital district shall authorize the line of credit by ordinance. The ordinance shall set forth facts demonstrating the need for the line of credit, state the amount to be borrowed, establish a maximum interest rate limit not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, and provide a date by which the borrowed funds shall be repaid. The ordinance shall authorize and direct the relevant officials to make arrangements to set apart and hold, as applicable, the moneys that will be used to repay the borrowing. In addition, the ordinance may authorize the relevant officials to make partial repayments on the line of credit as the moneys become available and may contain any other terms, restrictions, or limitations desirable or necessary to give effect to this Section 21.3. (Source: P.A. 95-366, eff. 8-23-07.)

(70 ILCS 910/22) (from Ch. 23, par. 1272) Sec. 22. Any person, desiring to donate property for the benefit of a hospital, constructed or to be constructed under this Act, may vest title to the property so donated in the board of directors created under this Act, and the Board of Directors shall hold and control the property so received and accepted according to the terms of the deed, gift or legacy of the property, and shall be a trustee of the property and shall take title to all property it may acquire in the name of the District and shall control such property for the purposes provided in this Act. (Source: P.A. 83-388.)

(70 ILCS 910/23) (from Ch. 23, par. 1273) Sec. 23. In case any Hospital District organized hereunder shall be coterminous with or shall include within its corporate limits in whole or in part any pre-existing public agency authorized to own, operate and maintain a public hospital and to levy taxes for any such purpose, then such public agency shall cease to exercise any power in respect to hospitals within such Hospital District from and after the date that it receives written notice from the Director of Public Health to cease operation of its hospital, which notice shall be given only after the Director of Public Health has ascertained that the Hospital District has placed its hospital facilities in operation, and such public agency shall not thereafter own, operate, maintain, manage, control or have an interest in any public hospital within the corporate limits of said Hospital District. The Director of Public Health, upon request of the Board of Directors of any Hospital District, shall ascertain whether its hospital facilities are in operation so that it may supersede the power of any public agency to operate a hospital within the boundaries of the District. Where in any case any pre-existing public agency is in fact owning, operating and maintaining a public hospital located within the corporate limits of a Hospital District organized under this Act, such public agency shall be paid and reimbursed, upon such terms as may be agreed upon by its corporate authorities and the Board of Directors of such Hospital District, its actual expenditures theretofore made in acquiring the land for any such hospital and in acquiring, constructing, improving or developing any existing hospital facilities, not including funds advanced for that purpose or otherwise paid or expended either directly or indirectly by State or Federal governments. The terms of payment shall provide for reimbursement in full within not less than twenty years from the date of such agreement. In case the amount and terms of reimbursement cannot be determined or agreed upon between the corporate authorities of any existing public agency and the Board of Directors of the Hospital District, the Board of Directors of such Hospital District shall cause a description of the existing hospital facilities to be made, together with an estimate of all actual expenditures made by the public agency therefor and shall tender payment of the total amount so estimated in writing to the corporate authorities of such public agency. Such tender shall provide for payment by the District of the amount tendered within ten years from date thereof, and that portion of said sum to be paid on and after twelve months from the date of such tender shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract. In case such a tender is not accepted in writing by the corporate authorities of such public agency within thirty days after the same is made, the Hospital District by its Board of Directors shall file a petition in the Circuit Court of the county in which the Hospital District and such public agency or the major portions thereof are situated, making such public agency a party defendant thereto, setting forth a description of the hospital facilities, the estimated amount of expenditures made by the defendants thereon, the fact that a tender had been made for the payment of the actual expenditures in accordance with the estimate, and praying that it be determined by the Circuit Court the true amount of such expenditures by said public agency. A copy of such petition shall be served upon the presiding officer of such public agency within five days after filing of the petition and upon presentation to the court of proof of such service said petition shall be set down for hearing within not more than sixty days from the date of filing said petition. The hearing thereon may be continued from time to time upon the request of either party within the discretion of the Circuit Court and upon the hearing the Circuit Court shall consider such evidence as may be submitted by either party and shall determine the amount of such actual expenditures made by the public agency for the existing hospital facilities. The amount so determined shall be conclusive as between said parties and shall be paid by the Hospital District within five years after the entry of the order by the Circuit Court and that portion of the amount which is not to be paid within twelve months from date of the order shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, and the public agency shall accept said sums in full payment for all existing hospital facilities owned by it and said public agency shall from and after the entry of the order of the Circuit Court and receipt of notice from the Director of Public Health cease to exercise any power in respect to public hospitals within the corporate limits of the said Hospital District. Any money received by a public agency pursuant to this section shall be used to discharge any debt resulting from the construction, operation or maintenance of its public hospital, and the balance shall be used for its general corporate purposes. With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts. (Source: P.A. 86-4.)

(70 ILCS 910/25) (from Ch. 23, par. 1275) Sec. 25. In case the board of directors of any hospital district organized under this Act finds: (i) that all or any part of the need for hospital services of the inhabitants of the District can be better served on a permanent basis by the ownership and operation of the hospital's facilities by a not-for-profit corporation organized by the District's board of directors, or by the facilities of another hospital or hospitals, publicly or privately operated, and located in or not more than 20 miles from the boundaries of the district; (ii) that provision of hospital services by such not-for-profit corporation or other hospital or hospitals will result in a permanent net improvement of quality of overall hospital services for the inhabitants of the District; and (iii) that such not-for-profit corporation or other hospital or hospitals have entered into binding contracts with the District to so provide such hospital services on a permanent basis to the inhabitants of the District and discharge or assume all debts, liabilities, and obligations of the District in return for conveyance and transfer to such not-for-profit corporation or hospital or hospitals all assets of the District, or that the hospital district has entered into a binding contract with a fire protection district, health care foundation, or other entity that provides emergency or medical services to the general public, operating wholly or partially within the boundaries of the hospital district, to convey all of the hospital district's assets to a fire protection district, health care foundation, or other entity, so long as the entity accepting the hospital district's assets assumes all of the hospital district's outstanding indebtedness, and the amount of this indebtedness does not exceed the amount of the hospital district's assets, such contracts subject to completion of dissolution of the District as provided in this Section and to take effect immediately upon completion of dissolution of the District, provided that the Department of Public Health shall be a party to such contracts as a trustee for the inhabitants' interests following dissolution of the District, the District may be dissolved in the following manner: The board of directors of the District shall propose an ordinance finding and determining that the foregoing conditions exist and that the best interest of the inhabitants of the District does not require continuation of the District. The board of directors shall officially invite the State Comprehensive Health Planning Agency to review and comment upon the proposed ordinance and shall provide whatever documentation is required by the agency for purposes of review and comment. At any time after receipt of a report from the State Comprehensive Health Planning Agency or 30 days after extending an invitation to the agency, if no report has been submitted, the board of directors may proceed to adopt the proposed ordinance. A certified copy of the ordinance and the report of the Comprehensive Health Planning Agency, if submitted previous to adoption of the ordinance, shall be filed with the Circuit Court of the County in which the District is located. The circuit court shall set the ordinance for hearing within not less than 30 nor more than 40 days after the filing of the ordinance with the circuit clerk. Notice shall be given by the circuit court of the time and place where the hearing will be held, by publication on 3 separate days in one or more newspapers published within the District, the first of these publications shall be not less than 20 days before the date set for the hearing, and if there is no such newspaper, then notice shall be posted in 10 of the most public places in the District, not less than 20 days before the date set for the hearing. This notice shall include a description of the findings of the board as set out in the ordinance, the names of the municipalities within the District, and the proposed effective date of the dissolution. The court may continue the hearing on the ordinance from time to time. Upon such public hearing the board of directors may also move to otherwise amend the ordinance or to dismiss or to withdraw it, and any such motion shall be allowed by the court. If such ordinance is not dismissed or withdrawn, the court by written order shall find and determine whether the facts stated in the ordinance are true and, if so, shall so certify to the board of directors of the District. If the court also determines that the District has entered into a binding contract with a not-for-profit corporation pursuant to which such corporation is to provide hospital services on a permanent basis to the inhabitants of the District, then the court shall so certify and the ordinance shall not be subject to the referendum provisions of this Section and the District shall be dissolved. If the court does not determine that such a contract exists, the ordinance and certificate shall be published once in a daily or weekly newspaper or newspapers of general circulation published within the District or, if there be no such newspaper published in the District, then in a newspaper of general circulation published in a county wherein the District is located. Such publication of the ordinance shall be accompanied by a notice of (1) the specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting the submission to the electors of the question of the dissolution of the District; (2) the time in which such petition must be filed; and (3) the date of the prospective referendum. The secretary of the Board shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one. Unless a petition is filed with the board within 30 days after such publication containing the signatures of 1,000 electors or 10% of the registered voters of the District, whichever is lower, requesting that the question of the dissolution of the District be submitted to a referendum, the District shall be deemed to be dissolved at the expiration of that 30 day period. If such a petition is filed then the question of the dissolution of the District shall be submitted to the electors of the District and the board of directors shall certify the question to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question to the voters at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall read substantially as follows: Shall the (name or describe) Hospital District be

dissolved?

The board of directors of the District shall cause the result of the referendum to be entered upon the corporate records of the District. If a majority of the ballots cast on the proposition are marked "yes" the District shall be dissolved. But if a majority of the ballots cast on the proposition are marked "no", the corporate authorities shall proceed with the affairs of the District as though the dissolution ordinance had never been adopted, and, in such case, the proposition shall not be again considered for a period of 2 years. When the business and affairs of any such District have been closed up after the dissolution thereof such fact shall be certified by the chairman of its board of directors to the county clerk and recorder of the county or counties in which the District was situated and to the Secretary of State. (Source: P.A. 87-1006.)