Opinion No. (2005)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General DANIEL G. STONE Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE GEORGE RUNNER, MEMBER OF THE STATE SENATE, has requested an opinion on the following question: May a hospital district organized under the Local Health Care District Law reimburse an emergency room physician employed by the district for expenses incurred in traveling to Sri Lanka and providing emergency medical care to tsunami victims? CONCLUSION A hospital district organized under the Local Health Care District Law may reimburse an emergency room physician employed by the district for expenses incurred in traveling to Sri Lanka and providing emergency medical care to tsunami victims if the district reasonably determines that the performance of such services will directly assist the district in accomplishing its authorized public responsibilities. ANALYSIS The Local Health Care District Law (Health Saf. Code, §§ 32000-32492; "District Law") 1 governs local healthcare districts and hospital districts (§§ 32000, 32000.1 subd. (a)). The principal purposes of these districts are to establish, maintain, and operate health facilities within their territorial limits. (See §§…