Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles seeks $63M as committee debates short-term hospital aid

During deliberations on AB 108, multiple senators and public commenters urged additional or targeted funding for specific hospitals. Senator Durazo and a representative from Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles asked the subcommittee to consider a one-time request of about $63,000,000 specifically for CHLA, describing it as a statewide pediatric safety-net provider whose patients include a high share of Medi‑Cal and uninsured children.

Mark Farouk of the California Hospital Association and other stakeholder witnesses told the committee they support immediate emergency aid and urged the Legislature to consider larger, longer-term funding; some stakeholders referenced $300,000,000 as a target for the broader distressed-hospital effort based on the scale of previous programs.

Administration witnesses and the Legislative Analyst's Office repeatedly emphasized that AB 108 is a narrow, short-term bridge to keep a very small number of hospitals open through the end of the fiscal year. The Department of Finance and HCAI said the $25 million program is meant for hospitals meeting the stated criteria and that application and eligibility verification (with data as of April 15) will determine awardees.

Committee members said they support immediate aid but want clearer data and follow-up hearings to weigh targeted requests—such as the CHLA proposal—and longer-term structural solutions including reimbursement rates, seismic compliance costs and loan forgiveness options.

The subcommittee approved AB 108 18–0 and signaled that requests for additional targeted funding will be considered during the May revise and subsequent hearings.