AB 918: Health care district: County of Imperial.

Existing law, the Local Health Care District Law, authorizes the organization and incorporation of local health care districts and specifies the powers of those districts, including, among other things, the power to establish, maintain, and operate, or provide assistance in the operation of, one or more health facilities or health services, including, but not limited to, outpatient programs, services, and facilities; retirement programs, services, and facilities; chemical dependency programs, services, and facilities; or other health care programs, services, and facilities and activities at any location within or without the district for the benefit of the district and the people served by the district.

This bill would form a local health care district in the County of Imperial, designated as the Imperial Valley Healthcare District, that includes all of the County of Imperial. The bill would require the initial board of directors of the Imperial Valley Healthcare District to be appointed from and by specified bodies, including among others, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, the Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District Board of Directors, and the Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District Board of Directors. The bill would require the initial board of directors to recommend a permanent funding source mechanism to be presented to and approved by voters via ballot measure. The bill would require the initial board of directors to enter negotiations with El Centro Regional Medical Center to decide the terms of the acquisition of the hospital. The bill would require the initial board of directors to finalize the terms of the acquisition by November 5, 2024. The bill would require the City of El Centro to negotiate in good faith with the Imperial Valley Healthcare District. The bill would require the board of directors to hold a minimum of 3 public meetings between the effective date of the bill and January 1, 2025, as specified. The bill would require the board of directors to recommend to the Imperial County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) dates for the dissolutions of the Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District and Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District and would authorize the board to recommend separate dates for each districts dissolution. The bill would require, by January 1, 2025, the Imperial County LAFCO to dissolve the Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District and the Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District and would transfer the assets, rights, and responsibilities of the dissolved districts to the Imperial Valley Healthcare District. The bill would require, until the dissolution of both of those districts, the Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District to hold a temporary clerical role for the Board of Directors of the Imperial Valley Healthcare District, as specified. The bill would extend the terms of the board members of the districts being dissolved until their respective dissolution date or January 1, 2025, whichever occurs first. Following the appointment of the board of directors, the bill would require the board of directors to adopt a resolution to divide the Imperial Valley Healthcare District into voting districts for the purpose of electing members of the board of directors from and by the electors of those voting districts beginning with the next district election occurring after January 1, 2024. The bill would require the Imperial Valley Healthcare District to annually report to the Imperial County LAFCO regarding health care service provision in the district in 2024 and 2025, as specified. The bill would require the Imperial County LAFCO to conduct a municipal service review regarding health care service provision in the district by December 31, 2026, and by December 31 every 5 years thereafter. By imposing new duties on the City of El Centro and the County of Imperial, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature that the Imperial Valley Healthcare District maximize the use of its assets to provide direct health care services to individuals within the district, as specified.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the purpose of the bill and the necessity of a special statute for the County of Imperial.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.