Code Section

129173.  

(a)  In fulfilling the purposes of this article, as set forth in Section 129005, and upon making a determination that the financial status of a borrower may jeopardize a borrower’s ability to fulfill its obligations under any insured loan transaction so as to threaten the economic interest of the department in the borrower or to jeopardize the borrower’s ability to continue to provide needed health care services in its community, including, but not limited to, a declaration of default under any contract related to the transaction, the borrower missing any payment to its lender, or the borrower’s accounts payable exceeding three months, the department may assume or direct managerial or financial control of the borrower in any or all of the following ways:

(1)  The department may supervise and prescribe the activities of the borrower in the manner and under the terms and conditions as the office may stipulate in any contract with the borrower.

(2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of the articles of incorporation or other documents of organization of a nonprofit corporation borrower, this control may be exercised through the removal and appointment by the department of members of the governing body of the borrower sufficient so that the new members constitute a voting majority of the governing body.

(3)  In the event the borrower is a nonprofit corporation or a political subdivision, the department may request the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency to appoint a trustee. The trustee shall have full and complete authority of the borrower over the insured project, including all property on which the department holds a security interest. No trustee shall be appointed unless approved by the department. A trustee appointed by the secretary pursuant to this subdivision may exercise all the powers of the officers and directors of the borrower, including the filing of a petition for bankruptcy. No action at law or in equity may be maintained by any party against the office or a trustee by reason of their exercising the powers of the officers and directors of a borrower pursuant to the direction of, or with the approval of, the secretary.

(4)  The department may institute any action or proceeding, or the department may request the Attorney General to institute any action or proceeding against any borrower, to obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, including the appointment of a receiver for the borrower or the borrower’s assets, in the superior court in and for the county in which the assets or a substantial portion of the assets are located. The proceeding under this section for injunctive relief shall conform with the requirements of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except that the department shall not be required to allege facts necessary to show lack of adequate remedy at law, or to show irreparable loss or damage. Injunctive relief may compel the borrower, its officers, agents, or employees to perform each and every provision contained in any regulatory agreement, contract of insurance, or any other loan closing document to which the borrower is a party, or any obligation imposed on the borrower by law, and require the carrying out of any and all covenants and agreements and the fulfillment of all duties imposed on the borrower by law or those documents.

A receiver may be appointed pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 564) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. In cooperation with the Attorney General, the department shall develop and maintain a list of receivers who have demonstrated experience both in the health care field and as a receiver. Upon a proper showing, the court shall grant the relief provided by law and requested by the department or the Attorney General. No receiver shall be appointed unless approved by the department. The department shall establish reporting requirements for receivers to ensure that the department is fully apprised of all costs incurred and progress made by the receiver. A receiver appointed by the superior court pursuant to this subdivision and Section 564 of the Code of Civil Procedure may, with the approval of the court, exercise all of the powers of the officers and directors of the borrower, including the filing of a petition for bankruptcy. No action at law or in equity may be maintained by any party against the department, the Attorney General, or a receiver by reason of their exercising the powers of the officers and directors of a borrower pursuant to the order of, or with the approval of, the superior court.

(5)  The borrower shall inform the department in advance of all meetings of its governing body. The borrower shall not exclude the department from attending any meeting of the borrower’s governing body.

(b)  Other than the loan insured under this chapter, the department shall not be liable for any debt of a borrower, or to a borrower, as a result of the department asserting its legal remedies against a borrower insured under this chapter.

(c)  It is the intent of the Legislature that this section is remedial in nature, and is applicable retroactively to any health facility construction loans in existence at the time of its enactment, to the extent that the application of this section does not unlawfully impair existing contract rights.