(a) A county with a population of at least 200,000 and one or more municipalities in the county that jointly own and operate a hospital in the county may by agreement designate one of those governmental entities to assume the entire ownership and control of the hospital on terms to which those governmental entities agree.
(b) On the agreement of the commissioners court and the governing body of each municipality that jointly owns and operates the hospital, a countywide election on the issue of the future ownership and operation of the hospital may be ordered. The majority vote on the propositions submitted shall govern the future ownership and operation of the hospital. The commissioners court shall pay the costs of the election from county funds.