Cal. Government Code § 6523.11

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a private, nonprofit hospital in the County of Santa Barbara may enter into a joint powers agreement with a public agency, as defined in Section 6500. (b) Nonprofit hospitals and public agencies participating in a joint powers agreement entered into pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not reduce or eliminate any emergency services, as a result of that agreement, following the creation of the joint powers authority without a public hearing by the authority. The joint powers authority shall provide public notice of the hearing to the communities served by the authority not less than 14 days prior to the hearing and the notice shall contain a description of the proposed reductions or changes. (c) This section shall not be construed to grant any power to a nonprofit hospital that participates in an agreement authorized under this section to levy any tax or assessment. This section shall not permit any entity, other than a nonprofit hospital corporation or a public agency, to participate as a party to an agreement authorized under this section.