The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a)
Approximately 21 percent of nonelderly Californians lack health insurance coverage. Many are low-income individuals who are not eligible for existing public health coverage programs.
(b)
One hundred eighty million dollars ($180,000,000) in federal funds will be available for three years to reimburse for public expenditures made under a Health Care Coverage Initiative for uninsured individuals. These funds are to be provided pursuant to the Special Terms and Conditions of California’s Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration project waiver number 11-W-00193/9 relating to hospital financing and health coverage expansion.
(c)
California’s health care safety net system plays an essential role in delivering critical health services to low-income individuals.
(d)
Local governments have the unique ability to design health service delivery models that meet the needs of their diverse populations and build on local infrastructures.