California Code, Government Code - GOV § 15820.100

(a) On February 14, 2006, the United States District Court in the case of Plata v. Schwarzenegger (No. C01-1351 TEH) suspended the exercise of authority by the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation related to the administration, control, management, operation, and financing of the California prison medical health care system and vested those powers in a Medical Care Receiver appointed by the court commencing on April 17, 2006, until further order of the court.

(b) These powers included assessing the suitability of existing medical care facilities and the design and construction of upgrades or replacement facilities.

(c) It is necessary to design and construct a Central Health Services Building at San Quentin State Prison to provide medical, dental, and mental health treatment and a reception center to inmates.

(d) The purpose of this chapter is to authorize funding solely for this project and to describe the procurement method that the Medical Care Receiver is authorized to use for the project.

(e) This chapter is enacted for the sole purpose of addressing the urgent need for this building and for prison health care and shall not be cited as precedent for any other purpose.