Opinion No. (1997)

DANIEL E. LUNGREN Attorney General CLAYTON P. ROCHE Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE JAMES B. LINDHOLM, COUNTY COUNSEL, SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, has requested an opinion on the following question: May the electorate of a general law county enact through the initiative process an ordinance that would require a vote of the people for (1) any closure, sale, or lease of a county hospital, (2) any action transferring the management of a county hospital from the board of supervisors to another entity, or (3) any reduction or elimination of medical services at a county hospital? CONCLUSION The electorate of a general law county may not through the initiative process enact an ordinance that would require a vote of the people for (1) any closure, sale, or lease of a county hospital, (2) any action transferring the management of a county hospital from the board of supervisors to another entity, or (3) any reduction or elimination of medical services at a county hospital. ANALYSIS In this request for our opinion we are asked if the electorate of a general law county may, through the initiative process, enact an ordinance that would require prior voter approval with respect to changes in…