BILL NUMBER: AB 2180	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 29, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2012

   An act to  amend Section 116270   add Chapter
8 (commencing with Section 32495) to Division 23  of the Health
and Safety Code, relating to  drinking water  
local health care districts  .



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2180, as amended, Alejo.  California Safe Drinking
Water Act.   Local health care districts: employee
benefits.  
   The Local Health Care District Law authorizes the organization and
management of local hospital districts. That law authorizes the
board of supervisors of a local hospital district to establish,
maintain, and operate, or provide assistance in the operation of, one
or more health facilities or health services, including, but not
limited to, retirement programs, services, and facilities.  

   This bill would prohibit the board of directors, a hospital
district, and a health care facility of a hospital district from
providing to, or on behalf of, an officer or employee any payment
contingent upon severance or retirement, or a lump sum payment,
including one based on service or merit, a contribution to more than
one retirement plan, or any other retirement benefit, unless the
employer makes the same options available to all officers and
employees.  
   The Calderon-Sher Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 establishes a
drinking water regulatory program within the State Department of
Public Health in order to provide for the orderly and efficient
delivery of safe drinking water within the state and to establish
primary drinking water standards that are at least as stringent as
those established under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
 
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those
provisions. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Chapter 8 (commencing with Section
32495) is added to Division 23 of the   Health and Safety
Code   , to read:  
      CHAPTER 8.  BENEFITS OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES


   32495.  For the purposes of this chapter, the following
definitions shall apply:
   (a) "Employer" includes the board of directors, a hospital
district, and a health care facility of a hospital district.
   (b) "Officer or employee" includes the hospital administrator, a
director, policymaking management employee, or medical staff officer,
and any executive or staff of the health care facilities of the
district.
   32496.  An employer shall not provide to, or on behalf of, an
officer or employee any of the following, unless the employer makes
the same options available to all officers and employees:
   (a) A lump sum payment, including one based on service or merit.
   (b) Any payment contingent upon severance or retirement.
   (c) A contribution to more than one retirement plan or other
supplemental pension plan, whether public or private.
   (d) Any other retirement benefit.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 116270 of the Health and
Safety Code is amended to read:
   116270.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a)  Every citizen of California has the right to pure and safe
drinking water.
   (b)  Feasible and affordable technologies are available and shall
be used to remove toxic contaminants from public water supplies.
   (c)  According to the State Department of Public Health, over 95
percent of all large public water systems in California are in
compliance with health-based action levels established by the
department for various contaminants.
   (d)  It is the policy of the state to reduce to the lowest level
feasible all concentrations of toxic chemicals that when present in
drinking water may cause cancer, birth defects, and other chronic
diseases.
   (e)  This chapter is intended to ensure that the water delivered
by public water systems of this state shall at all times be pure,
wholesome, and potable. This chapter provides the means to accomplish
this objective.
   (f)  It is the intent of the Legislature to improve laws governing
drinking water quality, to improve upon the minimum requirements of
the federal Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, to establish
primary drinking water standards that are at least as stringent as
those established under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, and to
establish a program under this chapter that is more protective of
public health than the minimum federal requirements.
   (g)  It is the further intent of the Legislature to establish a
drinking water regulatory program within the State Department of
Public Health in order to provide for the orderly and efficient
delivery of safe drinking water within the state and to give the
establishment of drinking water standards and public health goals
greater emphasis and visibility within the department.