(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the health, safety, and welfare of the people of California depend upon the development and support of the conversion of the former Camarillo State Hospital into a campus of the California State University as authorized by Section 89009 of the Education Code, as well as other compatible uses. The continued economic vitality of the region can be enhanced by productive development of those portions of the former Camarillo State Hospital site not needed immediately for the California State University use in a manner consistent with the educational mission and the development of a California State University campus.

(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the County of Ventura has an interest in promoting the economic vitality of the region and is committed to the successful and productive development of a California State University campus and compatible uses, and toward that end, will cooperate in providing for the development of a California State University campus at the site.

(c) The Legislature further finds and declares that is in the interest of the state and its people for the state to do all of the following:

(1) Establish a special authority composed of representatives of the California State University and local government for the purpose of facilitating the optimal use of the former hospital site by the California State University and other compatible uses, and mitigating the onsite and offsite impacts of those uses.

(2) Provide the special authority with the power to promote use of the site through tax incentives so as to result in preservation of the site, needed income for the development of the university, and necessary economic, cultural, and social benefits to the region.

(3) Provide financing authority to achieve the development and other beneficial educational uses of the campus and its environs.

(d) The Legislature further finds and declares that the policy set forth in this title is most likely to be achieved if an effective governmental structure exists to plan for, finance, mitigate the impacts of, and carry out the reuse of the Camarillo State Hospital in a cooperative, coordinated, balanced, and decisive manner in which the site is used for a California State University campus and related uses, as well as for commercial and other uses that will provide revenue to support the state university’s development and provide a beneficial use to what would otherwise be abandoned and deteriorating facilities and a blighted area.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 861, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999. Conditionally operative as prescribed by Stats. 1998, Ch. 861, Sec. 5.)