Case Information

*1 March 14, 1975 Opinion No. H- 554 The Honorable Eugene Rurrcll County Attorney

County of Burnet Re: Applicability the Open Burnet, Texar 78611 Meetingr Act the Open

Recordr Act to a horpital authority.

Dear Mr. Rurrell:

You have arked whether a Horpital Authority, created by city ordinance purruant to 443le, l ection ‘3. ir a “governmental body” for purporee of the Meetingr Act, article 6252-17, V. T. C. S., and the Open Recordr Act, article 6252-17a, V. T. C. S.

Both the Open Meeting8 Act and the Open Record@ Act define “governmental body” include:

. . . . . . . every deliberative body having rule-making or qua&judicial power and &reified a# a depari- ment, agency, or political rubdivirion of a county or city. . .

Art. 6252-17, ec. l(c) and art. 6252-17a, eec. 2(1)(c). In our opinion a Horpital Authority ir a department or agency of the city which createa it. Two True courtr have implicitly o held in courme of deciding that euch an authority performe a governmental function and ie immune from tort liability. Childr v. Greenville Hortital Authority, 479 S. W. 2d 399 (Tex. Civ. App. --Texarkana 1972, writ rd’d n. r. e.); Bayleer v. Richardeon Hortitxl Authority, 508 S. W. 2d 189~(Tex. Civ. App. --Eartland 1974, writ ref’d n. r. e.).

i The Honorable Eugene Rurrell page 2

In reaching thie reeult, the court in Chia ruronad that the Sbte’e exemption from tort liability “eactende to municipal acte or fun&one performed ae agent of the rtate. ” 479 S. W. 2d at 400. The Horpital Authority in Childr warn created under article 4437e. V. T. C. S., nd,ae the court derctimt, war “a body politic and corporate. ‘I

The deternlination that a Horpital Authority perform. a govsrn- mental f uactfon and ir an agent the city which treater it for purporer of tort liability aleo controlr under the Open Meetingr ite clarrification and Open Recordr Actm. Both articb 6252-17 and 6252-17a are remedial acts, intended to open government meetinge and recordr to the public, and rhould be liberally conetrued to achieve their objective. m Independent School Dirtrict v. Pecor-Baretow Independent School Dirtrict, 466 S. W. 2d 377 (Tex. Civ. App. --San Antonio 1971, no writ).

The Board of Mrectorr which controlr the authority ie a deliberative power within the meaning of both Act,r. Itr body havi~S rule-meklng powerm include employment of an executive director and ether employeer, section 5, article 4437e, V. T. C. S. ; conrtrukklng, operating, and maintain- ing horpitalr, rection 6; irruing revenue bondr and negotiating the termr therefor, ectione 4 and 7. and conditiona

SUMMARY

A Horpital Authority created by city ordinance

purrumt 4437e, V. T. C. S., ie a “govern-

mental body” for purporer of the Open Meetings Act,

article 6252-37, V. T. C. S., Record* Act, article 625247a, V. T. C. S.

Very truly yourr, &i$ihci~ Attorney Goneral of Taxar *3 The Honorable Eugene Rurmell page 3

APPROVED:

5i3-74&

DAVID M. KENDALL, Firrt Amirtant

Opinion Committee

p. 2493