NATCHEZ — The Natchez Regional Medical Center board of trustees hired a bankruptcy lawyer at its regular meeting Monday morning in anticipation that the governor will sign the bankruptcy bill.

Attorney Eileen Schaffer of Jackson will be working to gather information on the hospital to file a petition in bankruptcy court.

Walter Brown, hospital board attorney, said he is confident that Gov. Haley Barbour will sign the Chapter 9 bankruptcy bill.

The bill, if signed by Barbour, will allow the hospital to do several things.

The hospital would not have to pay back the debtors immediately. They would be granted time to create a plan to pay them back.

The board will also be given a chance to review its current contracts and leases and will be given the chance to negotiate or drop the contracts.

The bill has passed through both the Senate and House of Representatives and it has been signed by the lieutenant governor. Now, it will move to the governor. Once the bill hits Barbour’s desk, he will have five days to sign it.