FL S1568

Requires county, district, and municipal hospital governing boards to evaluate benefits of selling or leasing hospital facilities by December 31, 2012, including conducting public hearings, obtaining independent valuations, and comparing operational efficiency with similar hospitals.

Mandates detailed written findings addressing fair market value, tax reduction for taxpayers, continued health care services to indigent and uninsured patients, conflict of interest disclosures, and physician contracts before accepting any sale or lease proposal.

Requires Chief Financial Officer approval of proposed transactions based on procedural compliance, with interested parties able to appeal decisions within 30 days; all costs paid by governing board unless contested in court.

Directs 50 percent of net sale or lease proceeds to health care economic development trust funds for job creation and health care expansion, and 50 percent to fund indigent care services within the district.

Exempts hospitals that executed letters of intent before December 31, 2011 (if closing by December 31, 2012) and hospitals with existing leases from new requirements, and exempts sales of property generating less than 20 percent of hospital net revenue.