76-3302. Findings, purpose. (a) The legislature of the state of Kansas hereby finds and declares that:

(1) Provision of health care is an essential governmental function protecting and promoting the health and welfare of the citizens of the state of Kansas;

(2) education of medical and health sciences professionals and the performance of medical and related research are essential to promote such health care;

(3) teaching hospitals are essential components of a system designed to deliver primary and specialty patient services and to promote medical and health sciences education and research;

(4) the mission of the university of Kansas hospital is to facilitate and support the education, research and public service activities of the university of Kansas medical center and its health sciences schools, to provide patient care and specialized services not widely available elsewhere in the state and to continue the historic tradition of care by the university of Kansas hospital to medically indigent citizens of Kansas;

(5) to provide for the education and training of health care professionals, to provide a clinical setting for biomedical research, and to ensure the availability of quality patient care including specialized medical services not otherwise widely available, it is necessary that the university of Kansas hospital be a facility of the finest possible quality;

(6) such quality hospital, health care and related facilities require specialized management and operation to remain economically viable to earn revenues necessary for its operation and to engage in arrangements with public and private entities and other activities, taking into account changes that have occurred or may occur in the future in the provision of health care and related services; and

(7) the needs of the citizens of the state of Kansas and of the university of Kansas medical center and its health sciences schools will be best served if the university of Kansas hospital is transferred to and operated by an independent public authority charged with the mission of operating a teaching hospital for the benefit of the university of Kansas medical center, providing high quality patient care and providing a site for medical and biomedical research.

(b) The exercise of the powers permitted by this act are deemed an essential governmental function in matters of public necessity for the entire state in the provision of health care, medical and health sciences education and research.

History: L. 1998, ch. 12, § 2; Feb. 26.