New Law Allows for Hospital Authority in Monterey County - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

Salinas, Calif.- Beginning January 1st a new California law will allow the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to establish a hospital authority for the management, administration, and control of the Natividad Medical Center and other health care facilities in the county. Legislatively this had to happen before Natividad and Salinas Valley Memorial Health could consolidate into one entity. At this time, Alejo's office says the two continue to talk about this merger.

Last August SVMH decided against a merger at that time, but with talks continuing between the two this could still be in the counties future. SVMH continues to look for a new CEO.

The new Central Coast Hospital Authority would grant duties, privileges, immunities, rights, liabilities, and limitations of a local unit of government within the state. The new law also grants to the authority the power to incur debt, borrow money, and issue bonds and the power to request that the board of supervisors levy a tax on behalf of the authority.