BILL NUMBER: AB 3028	CHAPTERED  09/28/08

	CHAPTER  506
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 28, 2008
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 28, 2008
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 14, 2008
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 19, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 18, 2008
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 22, 2008
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 3, 2008

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Salas

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2008

   An act to amend Section 129765 of, and to add Sections 129761 and
129812 to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to health facilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 3028, Salas. Health facilities.
   Existing law, the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic
Safety Act of 1983, requires the Office of Statewide Health Planning
and Development (OSHPD) to observe the construction of, or addition
to, any hospital building or the reconstruction or alteration of any
hospital building, as it deems necessary to comply with the act for
the protection of life and property.
   The act requires the OSHPD to pass upon and approve or reject all
plans for the construction or the alteration of any hospital
building, independently reviewing the design to ensure compliance
with the specified requirements. OSHPD may permit electronic
submission of the plans.
   The act requires that before commencing any construction or
alteration of any hospital building, OSHPD provide written approval
of the necessary plans as to safety of design and construction.
   This bill would authorize OSHPD to permit electronic review and
approval of the plans. The bill would authorize OSHPD to utilize an
over-the-counter plan review process.
   The act authorizes OSHPD to enter into agreements and contracts
when necessary in order to facilitate the timely performance of the
duties and responsibilities relating to specified reviews and
inspections.
   This bill would require OSHPD to use information technology, to
the extent possible, to facilitate the timely performance of its
specified duties and responsibilities.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (1) A variety of factors have contributed toward making health
care construction costs in California among the highest in the
nation. The costs are driven by the escalating price of raw
materials, high demand for skilled labor, and the complexity of
design, plan review, and approval of hospital construction.
   (2) As the industry moves to update the aging health care
infrastructure, incorporate advances in medical technology, implement
a modern health care delivery system, and improve seismic safety of
hospitals through compliance with the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital
Facilities Seismic Safety Act of 1983 (hereafter, the act), health
care construction activity will increase to unseen levels creating
additional economic pressure on the hospital and construction
industry.
   (3) While California has implemented proactive measures to
improve, streamline, and assist hospitals in their efforts at
compliance with the act, more than 300 hospitals may need to retrofit
or replace their general acute care hospital buildings by 2013 in
order to comply with the act.
   (4) Improving the efficiency of health care building plan review
and construction efforts will not only reduce the time to design,
review, and complete hospital construction, but also lower the cost
of the project and reduce overall cost pressures on the health care
system, allowing more resources to be directed to direct patient
services.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to do all of the
following:
   (1) Expedite projects through increased collaboration.
   (2) Modernize the review process with an infusion of new
technologies, such as electronic review, and it will aid in the
implementation of other expediting procedures.
   (3) Accelerate health care construction and foster greater
cooperation between the health care industry and state government,
while continuing to maintain public safety and improve the quality
and efficiency of health care facility plan review and approval.
  SEC. 2.  Section 129761 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to
read:
   129761.  The office shall use, to the extent possible, information
technology to facilitate the timely performance of its duties and
responsibilities under this chapter.
  SEC. 3.  Section 129765 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
   129765.  (a) Except as set forth in subdivision (b), the
application for approval of the plans shall be accompanied by the
plans, including full, complete, and accurate specifications, and
structural design computations, which shall comply with the
requirements prescribed by the office. The office may permit
electronic submission, review, and approval of plans.
   (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the office, in its sole
discretion, may enter into a written agreement with the hospital
governing authority for the phased submittal and approval of plans.
The office shall charge a fee for the review and approval of plans
submitted pursuant to this subdivision. This fee shall be based on
the estimated cost, but shall not exceed the actual cost, of the
entire phased review and approval process for those plans. This fee
shall be deducted from the application fee pursuant to Section
129785.
  SEC. 4.  Section 129812 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to
read:
   129812.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the office
may utilize an over-the-counter plan review process.