Earlier this week, we shared important news on a significant step forward in CHA’s efforts to address the 2030 seismic standards, one of the hospital field’s top priorities.
A potent, bipartisan group of Senators — Anna Caballero (D-Merced), Bill Dodd (D–Napa), Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), Marie Alvarado-Gil (D-Jackson), Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), and Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) — has agreed to jointly author a legislative proposal that will help hospitals with a range of seismic compliance challenges.
The bill, Senate Bill 1432, is currently in spot form as “placeholder” legislation but will be amended in the coming weeks to include the following:
- Providing additional time to comply with 2030 requirements for all hospitals
- Introducing additional disaster planning requirements for hospitals
- Reporting to the Legislature with analysis on the cost impacts of seismic compliance, including the impact on meeting spending growth targets set by the Office of Health Care Affordability
In addition to these legislative provisions, CHA will support Assembly Bill 869 (Wood, D-Healdsburg) providing seismic compliance relief for rural hospitals. We also are working to develop financial support opportunities for rural and critical access hospitals.
We are grateful for our legislative partners, who recognize that the seismic compliance challenges are ultimately a question about whether communities throughout California will be able to retain access to vital health care.
Without these changes, and facing an unfathomable $160 billion price tag for seismic upgrades, every hospital building that is not compliant with the 2030 “fully operational” standard will be forced to close patient care services by Jan. 1, 2030.
The risk to patients is real, grave, and approaching faster than it seems.
As advocacy to support this proposal begins in earnest, we encourage your organization’s leaders to get involved through CHA’s seismic community outreach program, and stay tuned for opportunities to connect directly with policymakers to advance this critically important bill.
