1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 450.490, the board of county commissioners of any county for which a public hospital has been established pursuant to NRS 450.010 to 450.510, inclusive, or established otherwise but administered pursuant to NRS 450.010 to 450.510, inclusive, may convey the hospital, or lease it for a term of not more than 50 years, to a nonprofit corporation if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The governing body of the nonprofit corporation must be composed initially of the incumbent members of the board of hospital trustees, as individuals. The articles of incorporation must provide for:

(1) A membership of the corporation which is broadly representative of the public and includes residents of each incorporated city in the county and of the unincorporated area of the county or a single member which is a nonprofit corporation whose articles of incorporation provide for a membership which is broadly representative of the public and includes residents of each incorporated city in the county and of the unincorporated area of the county;

(2) The selection of the governing body by the membership of the corporation or, if the corporation has a single member, by the single member;

(3) The governing body to select its members only to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term; and

(4) The terms of office of members of the governing body, not to exceed 6 years.

(b) The nonprofit corporation must contract to:

(1) Care for indigent patients at a charge to the county which does not exceed the actual cost of providing such care, or in accordance with NRS 439B.300 to 439B.340, inclusive, if applicable; and

(2) Receive any person falling sick or maimed within the county.

(c) The nonprofit corporation must agree to accept all the current assets, including accounts receivable, to assume all the current liabilities, and to take over and maintain the records of the existing public hospital.

(d) The agreement must provide for the transfer of patients, staff and employees, and for the continuing administration of any trusts or bequests pertaining to the existing public hospital.

(e) The agreement must provide for the assumption by the corporation of all indebtedness of the county which is attributable to the hospital, and:

(1) If the hospital is conveyed, for payment to the county of its actual capital investment in the hospital, after deducting depreciation and any indebtedness so assumed, immediately or by deferred installments over a period of not more than 30 years.

(2) If the hospital is leased, for a rental which will over the term of the lease reimburse the county for its actual capital investment in the hospital, after deducting depreciation and any indebtedness so assumed. The lease may provide a credit against the rental so required for the value of any capital improvements made by the corporation.

2. Boards of county commissioners which have joint responsibility for a public hospital may jointly exercise the power conferred by subsection 1, and are subject jointly to the related duties.

3. If any hospital which has been conveyed pursuant to this section ceases to be used as a nonprofit hospital, unless the premises so conveyed are sold and the proceeds used to erect or enlarge another nonprofit hospital for the county, the hospital so conveyed reverts to the ownership of the county. If any hospital which has been leased pursuant to this section ceases to be used as a nonprofit hospital, the lease is terminated.

(Added to NRS by 1969, 215; A 1975, 575; 1981, 1186; 1985, 597; 1987, 880)