(a)
It is the intent of the Legislature that installation of air-conditioning at the hospital and related buildings of the home be given high priority whenever any new construction or reconstruction is done, and that this construction or reconstruction be accelerated so as to accomplish the purposes of this section. The department shall, in this connection, consider whether construction of a new hospital facility at the home may be more cost-effective than renovation of the existing facility. The Master Plan for the Veterans’ Home of California construction schedule shall be revised to reflect this acceleration.
The department shall submit the revised schedule to the Legislature on or before November 1, 1984. For each additional year of the master plan following the 1984–85 fiscal year, the Governor’s Budget shall include an appropriation in an amount necessary to complete all projects relating to the installation of air-conditioning as shown in the revised schedule.
(b)
The sum of ninety-one thousand dollars ($91,000) is hereby appropriated from the Special Account for Capital Outlay in the General Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for expenditure during the 1984–85 fiscal year for the purposes of subdivision (a) in accordance with the following schedule:
Renovate hospital support services
(preliminary plans)
16,000
Hospital wards 1, 2, 3A (SNF)
(preliminary plans)
45,000
Section B (ICF)
(preliminary plans)
30,000
(c)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department, through the Office of the State Architect, may prepare and advertise bids for any master plan project in advance of funds being appropriated by the Legislature, but shall not award any contract for
construction of the project until construction funds are available and appropriated therefor.
(d)
No contract for construction of any project related to the master plan shall be entered into prior to the department’s obtaining a written commitment from the federal government to fund either 65 percent of the project cost, as approved by the federal government, or the maximum amount available to the state.