California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1272

(a) If a general acute care hospital or an acute psychiatric hospital submits a written application to the department's centralized applications unit, the department shall do both of the following:

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if a general acute care hospital or an acute psychiatric hospital submits a written application to expand a service that it currently provides and that is currently approved by the department, the department shall, within 30 business days of receipt of the completed application, approve the expansion, add it to the hospital license, and issue a revised license, unless the hospital is out of compliance with existing laws governing the service to be expanded.  A service approved pursuant to this subdivision shall remain licensed for not more than 18 months, unless the department approves the license for a longer period.  The department shall not be required to conduct an onsite inspection of the service to approve the expansion.  This subdivision does not preclude the department from conducting an onsite inspection of a hospital at any time or denying an application in accordance with this subdivision.

(c) A general acute care hospital or an acute psychiatric hospital that receives a license to modify, add, or expand a service or program pursuant to this section shall comply with all laws related to that service or program.

(d) The department shall develop a centralized applications advice program to assist hospitals in identifying and completing the correct paperwork and other requirements necessary to modify, add, or expand a service or program.

(e) On or before December 31, 2019, the department shall develop an automated application system to process applications submitted pursuant to this section.