The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:

(a) Significant changes have taken place in recent years in the health care marketplace and in the manner of reimbursement to health facilities by government and private third-party payers for the services they provide.

(b) These changes have permitted the state to reevaluate the need for, and the manner of data collection from health facilities by the various state agencies and commissions.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that as a result of this reevaluation that the data collection function be consolidated in a single state agency. It is the further intent of the Legislature that the single state agency only collect that data from health facilities that are essential. The data should be collected, to the extent practical on consolidated, multipurpose report forms for use by all state agencies.

(d) It is the further intent of the Legislature to eliminate the California Health Facilities Commission, the State Advisory Health Council, and the California Health Policy and Data Advisory Commission, and to consolidate data collection and planning functions within the office.

(e) It is the Legislature’s further intent that the review of the data that the state collects be an ongoing function. The office shall annually review this data for need and shall revise, add, or delete items as necessary. The office shall consult with affected state agencies and the affected industry when adding or eliminating data items. However, the office shall neither add nor delete data items to the Hospital Discharge Abstract Data Record or the quarterly reports without prior authorizing legislation, unless specifically required by federal law or judicial decision.

(f) The Legislature recognizes that the authority for the California Health Facilities Commission is scheduled to expire January 1, 1986. It is the intent of the Legislature, by the enactment of this chapter, to continue the uniform system of accounting and reporting established by the commission and required for use by health facilities. It is also the intent of the Legislature to continue an appropriate, cost-disclosure program.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 32, Sec. 20. (AB 106) Effective June 29, 2011. Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 73 of Stats. 2011, Ch. 32.)