LICENSE FEES

(a) The department shall charge each hospital a license fee for an initial license or a license renewal. (b) The executive commissioner by rule shall adopt the fees authorized by Subsection (a) in amounts as prescribed by Section 12.0111 and according to a schedule under which the number of beds in the hospital determines the amount of the fee. A minimum license fee may be established. (c) A fee adopted under this chapter must be based on the estimated cost to and level of effort expended by the department to conduct the activity for which the fee is imposed. (d) All license fees collected shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the department to administer and enforce this chapter. (e) Notwithstanding Subsection (d), to the extent that money received from the fees collected under this chapter exceeds the costs to the department to conduct the activity for which the fee is imposed, the department may use the money to administer Chapter 324 and similar laws that require the department to provide information related to hospital care to the public. The executive commissioner may not consider the costs of administering Chapter 324 or similar laws in adopting a fee imposed under this section.