The manner of formation of local hospital districts, and the conducting of all hospital district elections, unless otherwise provided in this division shall be as in the manner provided, respectively, by Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 58000) of Division 2 of Title 6 of the Government Code, and Part 3 (commencing with Section 10400) and Part 4 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 10 of the Elections Code. Except as provided in this division, these provisions are hereby incorporated in this division by reference and shall have the same effect and force as if fully set forth herein. In addition to all other requirements regarding formation of hospital districts, no hearing upon the petition to form a hospital district shall be held until comments and recommendations of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and each area health planning agency having territory within the proposed district, concerning the need for new or additional health facilities in the area to be served by the proposed district have been filed with the supervising authority. The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and the area health planning agency or agencies shall submit these comments and recommendations to the supervising authority within 60 days after receiving a request therefor from the proponents. Failure to submit these comments to the supervising body within 60 days shall be deemed to constitute a “no comment” response.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 923, Sec. 145. Effective January 1, 1995.)