Today's Law As Amended


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AB-1199 Trinity Public Utility District: health care district.(2003-2004)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 16490 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:

16490.
 (a) The Trinity Public Utility District may exercise the powers of a health care district pursuant to the Local Health Care District Law (Division 23 (commencing with Section 32000) of the Health and Safety Code).
(b) Notwithstanding Section 16467, the facilities and services provided pursuant to this section need not be financed on a self-sustaining, revenue-producing basis. Revenue to defray the cost of the facilities and services may be raised in any manner authorized by this division.
(c) To carry out the purposes of this section, the district may form a nonprofit public benefit corporation pursuant to the Nonprofit Corporation Law (Division 2 (commencing with Section 5000) of the Corporations Code).
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2008, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2008, deletes or extends that date.
SEC. 2.
 The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances of the Trinity Public Utility District. The facts constituting the special circumstances are:
The County of Trinity faces severe fiscal problems with the continued operation of the Trinity General Hospital. The potential financial collapse of the Trinity General Hospital poses a serious threat to the public health and safety of the residents of Trinity County. Local residents, taxpayers, and public officials are exploring organizational alternatives, including the formation of a new health care district. Until they select and implement an alternative, the County of Trinity has determined that the Trinity Public Utility District is the most reasonable alternative local agency to assume responsibility over the operation of the Trinity County Hospital. Because the Public Utility District Act (Division 7 (commencing with Section 15501) of the Public Utilities Code) does not authorize a public utility district to operate a hospital, it is necessary for the Legislature to enact a special act which allows the Trinity Public Utility District to exercise the powers of a health care district.
SEC. 3.
 This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
The County of Trinity faces severe fiscal problems with the continued operation of the Trinity General Hospital. The potential financial collapse of the Trinity General Hospital poses a serious threat to the public health and safety of the residents of Trinity County. An urgency statute is essential to allow local officials to transfer the operation of the Trinity County Hospital to the Trinity Public Utility District at the earliest possible time.