Today's Law As Amended


Bill PDF |Add To My Favorites |Track Bill | print page

AB-2271 St. Rose Hospital.(2023-2024)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, and subject to review and approval by the Department of Finance, the department shall approve the forgiveness of any department loans pursuant to the Distressed Hospital Loan Program established by Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 129380) of Part 6 of Division 107 of the Health and Safety Code for the St. Rose Hospital in the City of Hayward if the St. Rose Hospital is acquired by the Alameda Health System Hospital Authority established pursuant to Section 101850 of the Health and Safety Code.
(b) The department shall forgive the full amounts of the principal, interests, fees, and any other outstanding balances of the loan.
(c) The Department of Finance shall consider in its determination to review and approve the loan forgiveness pursuant to subdivision (a) whether the forgiveness will contribute to the financial and fiscal health of the St. Rose Hospital and make it possible for the Alameda Health System Hospital Authority to acquire the hospital, thereby avoiding the closure of the hospital.
SEC. 2.
 The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances facing the City of Hayward and the surrounding areas of the County of Alameda with regard to the availability of a patient safety net hospital whose patients are overwhelmingly Medi-Cal beneficiaries. St. Rose Hospital is a licensed 171-bed hospital potentially facing imminent closure in the next several months if an adequate acquirer is not secured. The entire City of Hayward and safety net patients from the surrounding area would be left without an emergency room, acute care, and specialty care.
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 California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
To make it feasible for the Alameda Health System Hospital Authority to acquire the St. Rose Hospital and prevent the possible closure of the hospital in the next six months, to ensure the continuity of critical safety net patient care for those underserved communities in the city of Hayward and surrounding communities, and to help prevent the disruption of patient services that the community relies on.