Hospitals: seismic compliance: Pacifica Hospital of the Valley.

Existing law, the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act of 1983, establishes a program of seismic safety building standards for certain hospitals. Existing law requires hospitals that are seeking an extension for their buildings to submit an application to the Department of Health Care Access and Information by April 1, 2019, subject to certain exceptions. Existing law requires that final seismic compliance be achieved by July 1, 2022, if the compliance is based on a replacement or retrofit plan, or by January 1, 2025, if the compliance is based on a rebuild plan. A violation of any provision of the act is a misdemeanor. This bill would, notwithstanding the above provisions, authorize the department to waive the requirements of the act for the Pacifica Hospital of the Valley in the County of Los Angeles if the hospital submits, on or before September 15, 2022, a plan for compliance and the department accepts the plan based on it being feasible to complete and promoting public safety. The bill would require, if the department accepts the plan, the hospital or medical center to report to the department on its progress to timely complete the plan on or before specified dates. The bill would authorize the department to revoke its waiver if Pacifica Hospital of the Valley fails to timely report progress that the department reasonably deems is sufficient to complete its plan and certain other conditions are satisfied. The bill would make these provisions retroactive to the extent that the passage of the bill overlaps with specified final seismic compliance reporting requirements. Because this bill would expand an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for Pacifica Hospital of the Valley in the County of Los Angeles. 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.