Minnesota Session Laws - 1992, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1992 

                        CHAPTER 534-S.F.No. 2514 
           An act relating to hospital districts; providing for 
          board membership and elections in the Yellow Medicine 
          county hospital district; providing for the 
          organization, administration, and operation of a 
          hospital district in the county of Swift and the city 
          of Benson; amending Laws 1963, chapter 276, sections 
          2, subdivision 2, and by adding subdivisions; and 4. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
     Section 1.  Laws 1963, chapter 276, section 2, subdivision 
2, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 2.  One third of the members of the first hospital 
board shall be appointed for a term to expire one year from 
December 31 next following such appointment, one third for a 
term to expire two years from such date, and one third for a 
term to expire three years from such date.  Successors to the 
original board members shall each be elected for terms of three 
years, and all members shall hold office until their successors 
are elected and qualify.  Terms of all members shall expire on 
December 31.  In case of a vacancy on the hospital board, 
whether due to death, removal from the district, inability to 
serve, resignation, or other cause the majority of the remaining 
members of the hospital board, at its next regular or special 
meeting, shall make an appointment to fill such vacancy for the 
then unexpired term.  The election of successors to the original 
board members shall be elected by popular vote of the qualified 
voters in the hospital district.  Such elections and any special 
elections shall be called and conducted in accordance with the 
provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 447.32, Subdivisions 
1, 2, 3, and 4 insofar as the same is applicable. 
    Sec. 2.  Laws 1963, chapter 276, section 2, is amended by 
adding a subdivision to read: 
    Subd. 2a.  The hospital board shall, by resolution, fix a 
date for an election, not later than December 7 just before the 
expiration of board members' terms.  It shall establish the 
whole district as a single election precinct and shall designate 
the polling place.  Special elections may be called at any time 
by the hospital board to vote on any matter required by law to 
be submitted to the voters.  Special elections must be held 
within the same election precinct and at the same polling place 
as regular elections.  Advisory ballots may be submitted by the 
hospital board on any question it wishes concerning the affairs 
of the district, but only at a regular election or at a special 
election required for another purpose. 
    Sec. 3.  Laws 1963, chapter 276, section 2, is amended by 
adding a subdivision to read: 
    Subd. 2b.  At least two weeks before the first day to file 
affidavits of candidacy, the clerk of the district shall publish 
a notice stating the first and last day on which affidavits of 
candidacy may be filed, the places for filing the affidavits, 
and the closing time of the last day for filing.  The clerk 
shall post a similar notice.  At least two weeks before the 
election the clerk of the district shall publish a notice of the 
election, and at least ten days before the election the clerk 
shall post a notice of the election.  A notice required to be 
published under this subdivision must be published in the 
official newspaper of the district, or, if a paper has not been 
designated, in a legal newspaper having general circulation 
within the district.  A notice required to be posted under this 
subdivision shall be posted in at least one public and 
conspicuous place within each city and town included in the 
district.  Failure to give notice does not invalidate the 
election of an officer of the district.  A voter may contest a 
hospital district election in accordance with Minnesota 
Statutes, chapter 209. 
    Sec. 4.  Laws 1963, chapter 276, section 2, is amended by 
adding a subdivision to read: 
    Subd. 2c.  (a) A candidate for the hospital board shall 
file an affidavit of candidacy for the election either as a 
member at large or as a member representing the city or town 
where the candidate resides.  The affidavit of candidacy must be 
filed with the city or town clerk not more than ten weeks nor 
less than eight weeks before the election.  The city or town 
clerk must forward the affidavits of candidacy to the clerk of 
the hospital district immediately after the last day of the 
filing period.  A candidate may withdraw from the election by 
filing an affidavit of withdrawal with the clerk of the district 
no later than 12:00 p.m. on the day after the last day to file 
affidavits of candidacy. 
    (b) Voting must be by secret ballot.  The clerk shall 
prepare, at the expense of the district, necessary ballots for 
the election of officers.  Ballots must contain the names of the 
proposed candidates for each office, the length of the term of 
each office, and an additional blank space for the insertion of 
another name by the voter.  The ballots must be marked and 
initialed by at least two judges as official ballots and used 
exclusively at the election.  Any proposition to be voted on may 
be printed on the ballot provided for the election of officers 
or on a different ballot.  The hospital board may also authorize 
the use of voting machines subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
chapter 206.  At least two election judges shall be appointed to 
receive the votes.  They may be paid by the district at a rate 
set by the board.  The election judges shall act as clerks of 
election, count the ballots cast, and submit them to the board 
for canvass. 
    (c) After canvassing the election, the board shall issue a 
certificate of election to the candidate who received the 
largest number of votes cast for each office.  The clerk shall 
deliver the certificate to the person entitled to it in person 
or by certified mail.  Each person certified shall file an 
acceptance and oath of office in writing with the clerk within 
30 days after the date of delivery or mailing of the 
certificate.  If the person elected fails to qualify within 30 
days, a majority of the remaining members of the board may 
appoint a successor, but qualification is effective if made 
before the board acts to fill the vacancy. 
    Sec. 5.  Laws 1963, chapter 276, section 4, is amended to 
read: 
    Sec. 4.  [MEETINGS OF THE BOARD.] Regular meetings of the 
hospital board shall be held at least once a month annually, and 
may meet more frequently, at such time times and place places 
as the board shall by resolution determine.  Special meetings 
may be held at any time upon the call of the chairman or of any 
two other members, upon written notice mailed to each member 
three days prior to the meeting, or upon such other notice as 
the board, by resolution, may provide, or without notice, if 
each member is present or files with the secretary a written 
consent to the holding of the meeting, which consent may be 
filed before or after the meeting.  Any action within the 
authority of the board may be taken by the vote of a majority of 
the members present at a regular or adjourned meeting or at a 
duly called special meeting if a quorum is present.  A majority 
of all the members of the board shall constitute a quorum, but a 
lesser number may meet and adjourn from time to time. 
     Sec. 6.  [COUNTY OF SWIFT; CITY OF BENSON:  REORGANIZATION 
OF JOINT POWERS HOSPITAL.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [AUTHORIZATION.] Any hospital organized and 
operating under a joint powers agreement between the county of 
Swift and the city of Benson may be reorganized and operate 
pursuant to the provisions of sections 6 to 20, upon compliance 
with subdivision 2. 
    Subd. 2.  [REORGANIZATION.] In order to effect a 
reorganization, the existing governing body of the hospital 
shall file its request for reorganization with the county board 
of the county of Swift and the city council of the city of 
Benson and the county board and city council shall then at their 
next regular meetings consider the establishment of a hospital 
district under sections 6 to 20.  Upon the adoption of 
resolutions by each political subdivision stating that the 
reorganization is effective and assigning a name to the hospital 
district the creation of the hospital district shall be effected.
    Subd. 3.  [REORGANIZATION; DISSOLUTION.] After a hospital 
district is organized under sections 6 to 20, upon approval by 
the city and the county, it may reorganize and operate under and 
pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, sections 447.31 to 447.50; or it 
may be dissolved in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 
447.38, provided that in that event the county and the city 
shall be deemed to be the governmental subdivisions that may 
petition for dissolution and upon dissolution one-third of the 
assets of the district shall be conveyed to the city and 
two-thirds shall be conveyed to the county. 
    Subd. 4.  [POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.] For the purpose of laws 
applicable to political subdivisions the hospital district shall 
be a political subdivision but shall not have taxing authority. 
    Sec. 7.  [HOSPITAL BOARD; APPOINTMENT; TERMS.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [GOVERNING BOARD.] The hospital district 
shall be governed by a board of directors of at least nine and 
not more than 12 voting members, elected as provided in 
subdivision 2.  All members of the hospital board at the time 
the hospital district is organized shall continue in office 
until the members of the first board of the hospital district 
are elected and qualify. 
    Subd. 2.  [ELECTION.] Three directors shall be elected by 
the city council and six directors shall be elected by the 
county board.  Up to three additional voting members and 
additional nonvoting members may be provided for in bylaws 
adopted pursuant to section 5, subdivision 5.  As nearly as 
possible, one-third of the members of the first board of 
directors shall be elected for a term to expire one year from 
the next December 31 following that election, one-third for a 
term to expire two years from that date, and one-third for a 
term to expire three years from that date.  Each of the 
political subdivisions electing directors shall assign terms of 
office to each director according to these staggered terms.  
Successors to the first board members shall each be elected for 
terms of three years, and all members shall hold office until 
their successors are elected and qualify.  Terms of office shall 
expire on December 31.  In case of vacancy on the board of 
directors, whether due to death, removal from the district, 
inability to serve, resignation, removal by the entity that 
elected the director, or other cause, the majority of the 
governing body of the entity that elected the director whose 
position is vacant shall elect a director to fill such vacancy 
for the then unexpired term. 
     Subd. 3.  [COMPENSATION.] The members of the board of 
directors may receive compensation for their services as such 
and may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses necessarily 
incurred in the performance of their duties to the extent 
provided for in bylaws adopted pursuant to section 5, 
subdivision 5. 
     Subd. 4.  [IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY.] Except as otherwise 
provided in this subdivision, no person who serves without 
compensation as a member of the board of directors shall be held 
civilly liable for an act or omission by that person if the act 
or omission was in good faith, was within the scope of the 
person's responsibilities as a member of the board, and did not 
constitute willful or reckless misconduct.  This subdivision 
does not apply to: 
    (1) an action or proceeding brought by the attorney general 
for a breach of a fiduciary duty as a director; 
    (2) a cause of action to the extent it is based on federal 
law; or 
    (3) a cause of action based on the board member's express 
contractual obligation. 
    Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit the 
liability of a member of the board for physical injury to the 
person of another or for wrongful death which is personally and 
directly caused by the board member. 
    For purposes of this subdivision, the term "compensation" 
means any thing of value received for services rendered, except: 
    (1) reimbursement for expenses actually incurred; 
    (2) a per diem in an amount not to exceed the per diem 
authorized for state advisory councils and committees pursuant 
to Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 3; or 
    (3) payment by the hospital district of insurance premiums 
on behalf of a member of the board. 
    Sec. 8.  [OFFICERS OF THE BOARD.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [OFFICES; ELECTION.] At the first meeting 
of the board of directors of the hospital district, and at each 
first regular meeting after December 31, the board shall elect, 
from their number, a chair, a vice-chair, a secretary, and a 
treasurer.  Each officer elected at the first regular meeting 
after December 31 shall hold office for one year, and until the 
officer's successor has been duly elected and qualified.  In 
case of vacancy in any office the chair shall appoint a member 
to fill the vacancy until the next regular election of officers. 
    Subd. 2.  [DUTIES.] The officers shall have the duties 
specified in this subdivision and additional duties as set forth 
in bylaws adopted in accordance with section 5, subdivision 5.  
The chair shall preside at all meetings of the board of 
directors and shall perform all duties usually incumbent upon 
such an officer.  The vice-chair shall preside in the absence of 
the chair.  The secretary shall record the minutes of all 
meetings of the board and be the custodian of all books and 
records of the district.  The treasurer shall be the custodian 
of money received by the district and shall see that they are 
properly accounted for.  The board may appoint deputies who 
shall perform any functions and duties of any officer, subject 
to the supervision and control of the officer. 
    Sec. 9.  [MEETINGS OF THE BOARD.] 
    Regular meetings of the board of directors shall be held at 
least quarterly and more frequently as provided in bylaws of the 
hospital district, at the time and place as the board shall by 
resolution determine.  The meetings may be held at any time upon 
the call of the chair or of any two other members, upon written 
notice mailed to each member three days prior to the meeting, or 
upon other notice as the board, by resolution or according to 
bylaws adopted by the board of directors, may provide, or 
without notice, if each member is present or files with the 
secretary a written consent to the holding of the meeting, which 
consent may be filed before or after the meeting.  Any action 
within the authority of the board may be taken by the vote of a 
majority of the members present at a regular or adjourned 
meeting or at a duly called special meeting if a quorum is 
present.  A majority of all the members of the board shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may meet and adjourn 
from time to time. 
    Sec. 10.  [THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND ITS POWERS.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [AUTHORITY; STATUS; PREEXISTING 
OBLIGATION.] The hospital district shall have perpetual 
succession, may contract and be contracted with, may sue and be 
sued, may, but shall not be required to, use a corporate seal, 
may acquire real and personal property as it may require, within 
or without the district, by purchase, gift, devise, lease, 
condemnation, or otherwise, and may hold, manage, control, sell, 
convey, or otherwise dispose of such property as its interests 
require.  All of the assets, real and personal, of the 
preexisting hospital organization owned by the county and the 
city, doing business as Swift County-Benson Hospital, shall pass 
to the hospital district in fee title or by lease, and all 
legally valid and enforceable claims and contract obligations of 
the preexisting hospital organization shall be assumed by the 
district.  All taxable property in the city of Benson and the 
county of Swift shall continue to be taxable for the payment of 
any bonded debt previously incurred by the preexisting hospital 
or by the city of Benson or the county of Swift on behalf of the 
preexisting hospital.  Any properties, real, personal, or mixed, 
which are acquired, owned, leased, controlled, used, or occupied 
by the district shall be exempt from general property taxation 
by the state or any of its political subdivisions, but nothing 
in sections 6 to 20, shall prevent the levy of special 
assessments for public improvements benefiting the property. 
    Subd. 2.  [BUDGET.] The board of directors shall adopt a 
budget for each ensuing year and shall provide the budget to the 
city council and the county board prior to the beginning of the 
year to which the budget applies.  The city council and county 
board may consider the budget and provide their comments and 
recommendations to the board of directors. 
    Subd. 3.  [POWERS.] (a) The hospital district shall have 
all the powers necessary and convenient to provide for the 
acquisition, betterment, operation, maintenance, and 
administration for the hospital, including nursing home, other 
facilities for the residential occupancy of ambulatory elderly 
citizens who do not require nursing home or general hospital 
care and related programs, as the board of directors shall 
determine to be necessary and expedient.  The enumeration of 
specific powers herein does not restrict the power of the board 
to take any lawful action which, in the reasonable exercise of 
its discretion, it deems necessary or convenient for the 
furtherance of the purpose for which the district exists, 
whether or not the power to take the action is implied from any 
of the powers expressly granted.  These powers shall include, 
but not be limited to, the power to: 
    (1) employ management, administrative, nursing, and other 
personnel, legal counsel, engineers, architects, accountants, 
and other qualified persons, who may be paid for their services 
by monthly salaries, hourly wages, and pension benefits, or by 
fees as may be agreed on; 
    (2) cause reports, plans, studies, and recommendations to 
be prepared; 
     (3) when acquiring real and personal property as authorized 
in subdivision 1, contract for the acquisition by option, 
contract for deed, conditional sales contract, or otherwise; 
     (4) construct, equip, and furnish necessary buildings and 
grounds and maintain the same; 
     (5) adopt bylaws and rules and regulations to govern the 
operation and administration of any and all hospital, nursing 
home, and other facilities under its control, and for the 
admission of persons thereto; 
    (6) impose and collect charges for all services and 
facilities provided and made available by it; 
    (7) borrow money and issue bonds as prescribed in sections 
6 to 20; 
    (8) procure insurance against liability of the district or 
its officers and employees, or both, for torts committed within 
the scope of their official duties, whether governmental or 
proprietary, or for errors and omissions, and against damage to 
or destruction of any of its facilities, equipment or other 
property; 
    (9) subject to subdivision 4, sell or lease any of its 
facilities or equipment as may be expedient; 
    (10) cause annual audits to be made of its accounts, books, 
vouchers, and funds by competent public accountants; this 
provision shall be construed to be mandatory; 
    (11) require a corporate surety bond from officers and 
employees of the district, and in the amount the board shall 
determine, and authorize payment of the premiums therefor; or 
    (12) provide loans to students as provided in Minnesota 
Statutes, section 447.331. 
    (b) If the Swift county or Benson hospital is sold or 
leased to a private organization, the successor employer shall 
provide hospital employees who were members of the public 
employees retirement association immediately before the lease or 
sale a pension program and benefits comparable to those provided 
by the public employees retirement association. 
    Subd. 4.  [APPROVAL FOR SALE OR LEASE.] Nothing contained 
in section 5 shall be construed to authorize the district or its 
board of directors to at any time sell, lease, or otherwise 
transfer the management, control or operation of the hospital, 
including nursing home or other facilities, except upon approval 
by a majority vote of the county board and the city council. 
    Subd. 5.  [BYLAWS.] Bylaws shall be adopted to further 
govern the operation of the hospital district.  Bylaws or any 
amendment or repeal of them, shall first be adopted by the board 
of directors, but shall not take effect until approved by the 
county board and the city council.  Bylaws may address any 
subject matter pertinent to the organization and operation of 
the hospital district consistent with sections 6 to 20, and 
other applicable laws. 
    Sec. 11.  [PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.] 
    Expenses of acquisition, betterment, administration, 
operation, and maintenance of the hospital district shall be 
paid from the revenue derived therefrom and, to the extent 
authorized by sections 6 to 20, from the proceeds of debt 
incurred for the benefit of the district, and to the extent 
determined from time to time by the county board or the city 
council, from appropriations made by the county board or the 
city council.  Money appropriated by the board of county 
commissioners and the city council to acquire or improve 
facilities of the hospital district may be transferred in the 
discretion of the board of directors to a sinking fund for bonds 
issued for that purpose.  The hospital board may agree to repay 
to the county and the city any sums appropriated by the county 
board or the city council for this purpose, out of the net 
revenues to be derived from operation of its facilities, and 
subject to the terms agreed on. 
     Sec. 12.  [TEMPORARY BORROWING AUTHORITY.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS.] Subject to 
the approval of the city and the county, the hospital district 
may borrow money by issuing certificates of indebtedness in 
anticipation of revenues and federal aids.  Total indebtedness 
for the certificates must not exceed $50,000.  The proceeds must 
be used for expenses of administration, operation, and 
maintenance of the district's hospital, nursing home, or other 
facilities.  The approval of the city and county shall be 
effected by an affirmative vote of their respective governing 
bodies.  
    Subd. 2.  [RESOLUTION.] The district may authorize and 
borrow and issue the certificates of indebtedness on passage of 
a resolution specifying the amount and reasons for borrowing.  
The resolution must be adopted by a vote of at least two-thirds 
of its board members, excluding board members who may not vote.  
The board shall fix the amount, date, maturity, form, 
denomination, and other details of the certificates and the date 
and place for receipt of bids for their purchase.  The board 
shall direct the secretary to give notice of the date and place 
fixed.  
    Subd. 3.  [TERMS OF CERTIFICATES.] Certificates must become 
due and payable no later than two years from the date of 
issuance.  Certificates must be negotiable and payable to the 
order of the payee and have a definite due date but may be 
payable on or before the due date.  Certificates must be sold 
for at least par and accrued interest and must bear interest at 
not more than eight percent a year.  Interest must be payable at 
maturity or earlier as the board determines.  The proceeds of 
current county or city appropriations, revenues derived from the 
facilities of the district and future federal aids, and any 
other district funds that become available must be applied to 
the extent necessary to repay the certificates.  
     Sec. 13.  [HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, AND OTHER FACILITIES; 
FINANCING AND LEASING.] 
     Subdivision 1.  [FINANCING.] Subject to the approval of the 
city and the county, the hospital district may issue revenue 
bonds by resolution of its governing body to finance the 
acquisition and betterment of hospital, nursing home, and other 
facilities.  This power is in addition to other powers granted 
by law and includes, but is not limited to, the payment of 
interest during construction and for a reasonable period after 
construction and the establishment of reserves for bond payment 
and for working capital.  The approval of the city and county 
shall be effected by an affirmative vote of their respective 
governing bodies.  In connection with the acquisition of any 
existing hospital or nursing home facilities, the city, county, 
or district may retire outstanding indebtedness incurred to 
finance the construction of the existing facilities.  
     Subd. 2.  [PLEDGE OF REVENUE.] The hospital district may 
pledge and appropriate the revenues to be derived from its 
operation of the facilities to pay the principal and interest on 
the bonds when due and to create and maintain reserves for that 
purpose, as a first and prior lien on the revenues or, if so 
provided in the bond resolution, as a lien on the revenues 
subordinate to the current payment of a fixed amount or 
percentage or all of the costs of running the facilities.  
    Sec. 14.  [SECURITY FOR BONDS; PLEDGE OF CREDIT FOR BONDS.] 
    In the issuance of bonds the revenues or rentals must be 
pledged and appropriated by resolution for the use and benefit 
of bondholders generally, or may be pledged by the execution of 
an indenture or other appropriate instrument to a trustee for 
the bondholders.  The site and facilities, or any part of them, 
may be mortgaged to the trustee.  The governing body may enter 
into any covenants with the bondholders or trustee that it finds 
necessary and proper to assure the marketability of the bonds, 
the completion of the facilities, the segregation of the 
revenues or rentals and other funds pledged, and the sufficiency 
of funds for prompt and full payment of bonds and interest.  The 
bonds shall be deemed to be payable wholly from the income of a 
revenue-producing convenience within the meaning of Minnesota 
Statutes, section 475.58, unless the appropriate governing body 
also pledges to their payment the full faith and credit of the 
county or city.  In this event, notice of the intent to issue 
bonds with a pledge of the full faith and credit of the county 
or city specifying the maximum amount and the purpose of the 
bond issue shall be published and if, within ten days of the 
date of publication, a petition asking for an election on the 
proposition signed by voters equal to ten percent of the number 
of voters at the last regular election is filed with the 
secretary, the bonds may not be issued unless approved by a 
majority of the electors voting on the question at a legal 
election.  
    Sec. 15.  [MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.] 
    Bonds issued under sections 8 to 13 must be issued and sold 
as provided in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 475.  If the bonds do 
not pledge the credit of the hospital district as provided in 
section 10, the governing body may negotiate their sale without 
advertisement for bids.  They shall not be included in the net 
debt of any municipality or county, and are not subject to 
interest rate limitations, as defined or referred to in 
Minnesota Statutes, sections 475.51 and 475.55.  
    Sec. 16.  [LEASE OF FACILITIES TO NONPROFIT OR PUBLIC 
CORPORATION.] 
    Subject to section 5, subdivision 4, the hospital district 
may lease hospital, nursing home, or other facilities to be run 
by a nonprofit or public corporation as community facilities.  
The facilities must be open to all residents of the community on 
equal terms.  The district may lease related medical facilities 
to any person, firm, association, or corporation, at rent and on 
conditions agreed.  The term of the lease must not exceed 30 
years.  The lessee may be granted an option to renew the lease 
for an additional term or to purchase the facilities.  The terms 
of renewal or purchase must be provided for in the lease.  The 
hospital district may by resolution of its governing body agree 
to pay to the lessee annually, and to include in each annual 
budget for hospital and nursing home purposes, a fixed 
compensation for services agreed to be performed by the lessee 
in running the hospital, nursing home, or other facilities as a 
community facility; for any investment by the lessee of its own 
funds or funds granted or contributed to it in the construction 
or equipment of the hospital, nursing home, or other facilities; 
and for any auxiliary services to be provided or made available 
by the lessee through other facilities owned or operated by it.  
Services other than those provided for in the lease agreement 
may be compensated at rates agreed upon later.  The lease 
agreement must, however, require the lessee to pay a net rental 
not less than the amount required to pay the principal and 
interest when due on all revenue bonds issued by the hospital 
district to acquire, improve, and refinance the leased 
facilities, and to maintain the agreed revenue bond reserve.  
The lease agreement must not grant the lessee an option to 
purchase the facilities at a price less than the amount of the 
bonds issued and interest accrued on them, except bonds and 
accrued interest paid from the net rentals before the option is 
exercised. 
    To the extent that the facilities are leased under this 
section for use by persons in private medical or dental or 
similar practice or other private business, a tax on that use 
must be imposed just as though the user were the owner of the 
space.  It must be collected as provided in Minnesota Statutes, 
section 272.01, subdivision 2.  
    Sec. 17.  [REFUNDING BONDS.] 
    The county, city, or hospital district may issue bonds by 
resolution of its governing body to refund bonds issued for the 
purposes stated in sections 6 to 20.  
    Sec. 18.  [SWIFT COUNTY.] 
    The county of Swift may make appropriations in whatever 
amount it deems appropriate for capital acquisition, capital 
improvements, maintenance, and operating subsidy for a hospital 
district created under sections 6 to 20, and any other hospital 
in the county notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, sections 
376.08 and 376.09 or any other limiting statutes or laws 
otherwise applicable to the county.  The county may also 
guarantee any indebtedness incurred by or on behalf of the 
hospital and pledge its full faith and credit in support of it. 
    Sec. 19.  [CITY OF BENSON.] 
    The city of Benson may make appropriations in whatever 
amount it deems appropriate for the purposes of capital 
acquisition, capital improvements, maintenance, and operating 
subsidy for a hospital district created under sections 6 to 20, 
notwithstanding any limiting statutes or laws otherwise 
applicable to the city.  The city may also guarantee any 
indebtedness incurred by or on behalf of the hospital and pledge 
its full faith and credit in support of it.  
    Sec. 20.  [POWERS SUPPLEMENTARY.] 
    The powers granted in sections 6 to 20 are supplementary to 
and not in substitution for any other powers possessed by 
political subdivisions in connection with the acquisition, 
betterment, administration, operation, and maintenance of 
hospitals, nursing homes, and related facilities and programs or 
the creation of hospital districts. 
    Sec. 21.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Sections 1 to 5 are effective the day after compliance with 
Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivision 3, by the 
governing body of the Yellow Medicine county hospital district. 
    Sections 6 to 20 are effective upon approval by majority of 
the county board of the county of Swift and by a majority of the 
city council of the city of Benson and upon compliance with all 
other provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021. 
    Presented to the governor April 17, 1992 
    Signed by the governor April 27, 1992, 1:54 p.m.