BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                    AB 3X|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  AB 3X
          Author:   Evans (D)
          Amended:  12/18/08 in Senate
          Vote:     21

           
          WITHOUT REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE


           SUBJECT  :    Budget Trailer Bill:  hospital construction  
          seismic safety 
                      project plan review process submittals

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This Budget Trailer Bill makes changes related  
          to hospital construction seismic safety project plan review  
          process submittals that are necessary to implement the 2008  
          Budget Act.

           ANALYSIS  :    This bill, as it relates to the Office of  
          Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD):

          1. Exempts from OSHPD's plan review process nonstructural  
             construction and alteration projects for hospitals with  
             estimated construction costs of less than $500,000.   
             (Under current law, the threshold is $50,000 or less.)

          2. Exempts from OSHPD's plan review process nonstructural  
             construction or alteration projects for hospitals with  
             costs of at least $500,000 but less than $1 million if  
             the designs for those projects are independently peer  
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                                                                 AB 3X
                                                                Page  
          2

             reviewed by independent plan reviewers.  The independent  
             plan reviewers shall certify to the OSHPD that the plans  
             are in full compliance with the California Building  
             Standards Code.  This certification shall not diminish  
             the liability or responsibility of the independent plan  
             reviewers.

          Based on the April 2008 SB 1838 (Chapter 693, Statutes of  
          2006) Report to the Legislature that analyzed OSHPD's plan  
          review processing time for fiscal year 2006-07, this bill  
          expedites the commencement of 929 projects (808 projects  
          between $50,000 and $499,000 and 121 projects between  
          $500,000 and $999,000).
           
          This bill contains a contingency clause which states that  
          the contents of this bill are not enacted unless AB 2X is  
          enacted.

          This bill defines "independent plan reviewer."

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  No    
          Local:  No


          DLW:mw  12/17/08   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

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