OPTIONAL THREE-YEAR TERMS

(a) The governing board of a hospital district created under general or special law may, on its own motion, order that the members of the governing board are to be elected to serve staggered three-year terms if: (1) the members of the governing board serve staggered four-year terms on the date the governing board enters the order; and (2) Subsection (b), (c), or (d) applies to the governing board. (b) This subsection applies to a governing board of a hospital district with five members. The election of board members in the even-numbered year following the date an order is entered under Subsection (a) in which three board members are to be elected shall be held as previously scheduled. Two of the members elected at that election shall serve three-year terms, and one of the members elected at that election shall serve a four-year term, to be determined by random draw. Board members elected in subsequent elections shall serve three-year terms. (c) This subsection applies to a governing board of a hospital district with seven members. The election of board members in the even-numbered year following the date an order is entered under Subsection (a) in which four members are to be elected shall be held as previously scheduled. Two of the members elected at that election shall serve three-year terms and two of the members elected at that election shall serve four-year terms, to be determined by random draw. Board members elected in subsequent elections shall serve three-year terms. (d) This subsection applies to a governing board of a hospital district with nine members. The election of board members in the even-numbered year following the date an order is entered under Subsection (a) in which five members are to be elected shall be held as previously scheduled. Two of the members elected at that election shall serve three-year terms and three of the members elected at that election shall serve four-year terms, to be determined by random draw. The election of board members in the next even-numbered year following the date an order is entered under Subsection (a) in which four members are to be elected shall be held as previously scheduled. Three of the members elected at that election shall serve three-year terms and one of the members elected at that election shall serve a four-year term, to be determined by random draw. Board members elected in subsequent elections shall serve three-year terms.