(a) Contracts under this article between the department and the commission shall be on a nonbid basis and shall be exempt from Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the county 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.

(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 632, Sec. 2.5. Effective September 20, 1994.)