AB 869 (Wood, D-Healdsburg)

AB 869 would prioritize certain smaller hospitals for the existing Small and Rural Hospital Relief Program, which is funded by the e-cigarette tax. This would allow them to get assessments for the cost of retrofitting their hospital and give certain smaller rural hospitals and certain district hospitals a five-year extension of the 2030 seismic deadline. It would also allow certain smaller rural and district hospitals, if they have experienced a financial hardship, an indefinite extension beyond 2035, until funds are appropriated by the state. Amendments taken on March 7 provide additional criteria that health care districts can meet to be eligible for the extensions under the bill.