Local Healthcare Leaders Applaud AB 869’s Passage in State Assembly
(Sacramento, CA) — On Tuesday, May 30, hospital seismic safety and compliance relief legislation authored by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) and Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) passed on the Assembly floor. AB 869 aims to provide rural hospitals with seismic safety compliance grant assistance and allow delays for seismic other building standards for certain financial hardship conditions. This legislation will now advance to the Senate.
“The fate of our public hospitals hangs in the balance and the consequences of closures would reverberate across the state. The Desert Healthcare District hospital services our region’s most vulnerable population and we are committed to protecting access to care in our community. That is why we applaud Assemblymembers Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) and our very own Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) for their authorship of AB 869,” said Conrado E. Bárzaga, MD., CEO of Desert Healthcare District and Foundation.
“This measure is critical to ensuring our doors stay open and our dedicated medical staff continue to do what they do best – providing desperately needed medical care for our families and our community. After this Assembly floor vote, we are one step closer,” he added.
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia is deeply concerned about this issue and the future of community healthcare access. He has devoted much time exploring policy solutions and strategic avenues of relief with district health leaders and legislative colleagues with districts experiencing similar hardships.
“Many hospitals throughout rural, underserved areas are struggling to keep their doors open, let alone meet the seismic mandate. We are focusing our legislative attention on this urgent matter to provide critical relief and resources to ensure the delivery of quality medical care and protect our district’s healthcare future,” said Garcia.
