(a) It is necessary that a special commission be established in Ventura County in order to meet the problems of the delivery of publicly assisted medical care in the county and to demonstrate ways of promoting quality care and cost efficiency. Because there is no general law under which such a commission could be formed, the adoption of a special act and the formation of a special commission is required.

(b) The Board of Supervisors of Ventura County may, by ordinance, establish a commission to negotiate the exclusive contract specified in Section 14087.5 and to arrange for the provision of health care services provided pursuant to this chapter, and to enter into contracts for the provision of health care services to subscribers in the Healthy Families Program. If the board of supervisors elects to enact this ordinance, all rights, powers, duties, privileges, and immunities vested in a county by this article shall be vested in the county commission. Any reference in this article to “county” shall mean the commission established pursuant to this section.

(c) The enabling ordinance shall specify the membership of the county commission, the qualifications for individual members, the manner of appointment, selection, or removal of commissioners, and how long they shall serve, and any other matters as the board of supervisors deems necessary or convenient for the conduct of the county commission’s activities. The commission so established shall be considered an entity separate from the county, shall file the statement required by Section 53051 of the Government Code, and shall have, in addition to the rights, powers, duties, privileges, and immunities previously conferred, the power to acquire, possess, and dispose of real or personal property, as may be necessary for the performance of its functions, to employ personnel and contract for services required to meet its obligations, and to sue or be sued. Any obligations of the commission, statutory, contractual, or otherwise, shall be the obligations solely of the commission and shall not be the obligations of the county or of the state.

(d) Upon creation, the commission may borrow from the county and the county may lend the commission funds, or issue revenue anticipation notes to obtain those funds necessary to commence operations.

(e) In the event the commission may no longer function for the purposes for which established, at such time as the commission’s then existing obligations have been satisfied or the commission’s assets have been exhausted, the board of supervisors may by ordinance terminate the commission.

(f) Prior to the termination of the commission, the board of supervisors shall notify the State Department of Health Services of its intent to terminate the commission. The department shall conduct an audit of the commission’s records within 30 days of notification to determine the liabilities and assets of the commission. The department shall report its findings to the board within 10 days of completion of the audit. The board shall prepare a plan to liquidate or otherwise dispose of the assets of the commission and to pay the liabilities of the commission to the extent of the commission’s assets, and present the plan to the department within 30 days upon receipt of these findings.

(g) Any assets of the commission shall be disposed of pursuant to provisions contained in the contract entered into between the state and the commission pursuant to this article.

(h) It is the intent of the Legislature that if such a commission is formed, the County of Ventura shall, with respect to its medical facilities and programs, occupy no greater or lesser status than any other health care provider in negotiating with the commission for contracts to provide health care services.

(i) Upon termination of the commission by the board, the County of Ventura shall manage any assets of the commission until superseded by a department approved plan. Any liabilities of the commission shall not become obligations of the county upon either the termination of the commission or the liquidation or disposition of the commission’s remaining assets.

(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 625, Sec. 7. Effective October 3, 1997.)