(a) The board of directors may provide for the operation and maintenance through tenants of the whole or any part of any hospital acquired or constructed by it pursuant to this division, and for that purpose may enter into any lease agreement that it believes will best serve the interest of the district. A lease entered into with one or more corporations for the operation of 50 percent or more of the district’s hospital, or that is part of, or contingent upon, a transfer of 50 percent or more of the district’s assets, in sum or by increment, as described in subdivision (p) of Section 32121, shall be subject to the requirements of subdivision (p) of Section 32121. Any lease for the operation of any hospital shall require the tenant or lessee to conform to, and abide by, Section 32128. No lease for the operation of an entire hospital shall run for a term in excess of 30 years. No lease for the operation of less than an entire hospital shall run for a term in excess of 10 years.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a sublease, an assignment of an existing lease, or the release of a tenant or lessee from obligations under an existing lease in connection with an assignment of an existing lease shall not be subject to the requirements of subdivision (p) of Section 32121 so long as all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The sublease or assignment of the existing lease otherwise remains in compliance with subdivision (a).

(2) The district board determines that the total consideration that the district shall receive following the assignment or sublease, or as a result thereof, taking into account all monetary and other tangible and intangible consideration to be received by the district including, without limitation, all benefits to the communities served by the district, is no less than the total consideration that the district would have received under the existing lease.

(3) The existing lease was entered into on or before July 1, 1984, upon approval of the board of directors following solicitation and review of no less than five offers from prospective tenants.

(4) If substantial amendments are made to an existing lease in connection with the sublease or assignment of that existing lease, the amendments shall be fully discussed in advance of the district board’s decision to adopt the amendments in at least two properly noticed open and public meetings in compliance with Section 32106 and the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code).

(c) A health care district shall report to the Attorney General, within 30 days of any lease of district assets to one or more corporations, the type of transaction and the entity to whom the assets were leased.

(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 194, Sec. 4) by Stats. 2010, Ch. 699, Sec. 25.6. (SB 894) Effective January 1, 2011.)