(a) A city or county, as applicable, shall have plan review and building inspection responsibilities for the construction or alteration of buildings described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 129725. The building standards for the construction or alteration of buildings specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 129725 established or applied by a city or county, shall not be more restrictive or comprehensive than comparable building standards established, or otherwise applied, to clinics licensed pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1200) of Division 2. For chronic dialysis and surgical services buildings, construction or alteration shall include conversion of a building to a purpose specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 129725.

(b) Upon the initial submittal to a city or county by the governing authority or owner of a hospital for plan review and building inspection services for buildings described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 129725 for chronic dialysis and surgical services, the city or county shall reply in writing to the hospital as to whether or not the plan review by the city or county will include a certification as to whether or not the clinic project submitted for plan review meets the clinic standards propounded by the department in the California Building Standards Code.

If the city or county indicates that its review will include this certification, it shall do all of the following:

(1) Apply the applicable clinic provisions of the latest edition of the California Building Standards Code.

(2) Certify in writing to the applicant within 30 days of completion of construction whether or not the standards have been met.

(c) If, upon initial submittal, the city or county indicates that its plan review will not include this certification, the governing authority or owner shall submit the plans to the Department of Health Care Access and Information and the department shall review the plans for certification to determine whether or not the clinic project meets the standards propounded by the department in the California Building Standards Code.

(d) When the department performs the certification review, the department shall charge a fee in an amount not to exceed its actual cost.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the governing authority of a hospital may request the Department of Health Care Access and Information to perform plan review and building inspection services for buildings described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 129725 and Section 129730. The department shall perform these services upon request and shall charge an amount equal to its standard fee for the construction and alteration of hospital buildings. The construction or alteration of these buildings shall conform to the applicable provisions of the latest edition of the California Building Standards Code for purposes of the plan review and building inspection of the department pursuant to this subdivision. The department shall issue the building permit and certificate of occupancy for these facilities.

(f) A building described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 129725 that is subject to the plan review and building inspection of the department pursuant to subdivision (e), may be designated by the governing authority or owner of the hospital as a “hospital building” as long as the building remains under the jurisdiction of the department. This hospital building shall be reviewed and inspected according to the standards and requirements of the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act of 1983 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 129675)).

(g) When a building is accepted for review by the department pursuant to subdivision (e), the governing authority of the hospital shall not request the city or county, as applicable, to conduct plan review and building inspection for any subsequent alteration of the same building, unless written notification is submitted to the department by the governing authority or owner of the hospital.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 143, Sec. 309. (AB 133) Effective July 27, 2021.)