Health care districts: community health needs assessment.

(1) Existing law, the Local Health Care District Law, requires a health care district that leases or transfers its assets to a corporation in accordance with specified provisions to act as an advocate for the community to the operating corporation and to annually report to the community on the progress made in meeting the community's health needs. This bill would, in addition, require that the health care district conduct an assessment, every 5 years, of the community's health needs and provide opportunities for public input. Commencing January 1, 2019, the bill would require the annual reports to address the progress made in meeting the community's health needs in the context of the assessment. (2) Existing law, the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, sets forth the powers and duties of a local agency formation commission, including, among others, the power to initiate proposals by resolution of application for the consolidation of a district, the dissolution of a district, a merger, the establishment of a subsidiary district, the formation of a new district or districts, and a specified reorganization. Existing law requires the commission, in order to prepare and to update spheres of influence, to conduct a service review of the municipal services provided in the county or other appropriate area designated by the commission. The law requires the commission, among other things, to prepare a written statement of its determinations with respect to specified items, including, but not limited to, growth and population projections for the area and present and planned capacity of public facilities. This bill would require that, in the case of a health care district established pursuant to the Local Health Care District Law, the written statement also address any community health needs assessment developed pursuant to the provisions described in (1) above. (3) By requiring that local agencies comply with these requirements, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 these statutory provisions.