Governance

El Camino Healthcare District (ECHD) Governance

Organization

The El Camino Healthcare District (ECHD) is a governmental entity formed pursuant to The Local Health Care District Law (California Health and Safety Code Section 32000 et. seq.). It is separate from El Camino Hospital. ECHD is governed by a Board of five publicly elected directors. These representatives, acting as a Board, oversee the activities of ECHD, exercising certain retained authority over El Camino Hospital and determine the use of tax revenue for community benefit programs and other uses.

Purpose [Article I, ECHD Bylaws]

The purpose of the District shall be to establish, maintain and operate, or provide assistance in the operation of one or more health facilities (as that term is defined in the California Health and Safety Code Section 1250) or health services at any location within or without the territorial limits of the District, for the benefit of the District and the people served by the District, and to do any and all other acts and things necessary to carry out the provisions of the District’s Bylaws and the Local Health Care District Law.

For more information about how the ECHD operates and is governed please download the following documents:

Term of Service

ECHD Board members are publicly elected to four-year terms. Elections are held in the General Election of even-numbered years. In 2022, there will be two seats open for election. The ECHD Board may also appoint board members, or the ECHD Board may call an election if a Board vacancy occurs between election cycles. There is no limit on the number of terms an ECHD Board member may serve.

Qualifications:

ECHD Board members must be registered voters who reside within the El Camino Healthcare District.

Board Member Work and Time Commitment

1. Regularly attend ECHD Board and Committee Meetings – Regular District Board meetings are scheduled 4 times annually on the third Tuesday of the month (January, March, June, and October) beginning at 5:30 pm at El Camino Hospital. Additional meetings may be scheduled from time to time as District business requires.

2. Though not a requirement, all current ECHD Board members serve also on the El Camino Hospital Board of Directors. The work and time commitment of an El Camino Hospital Board member is described on the El Camino Hospital website.

3. Each ECHD Board member should prepare for and participate fully in an effort to contribute his or her knowledge and skills to the collective deliberations of the ECHD Board, so that the ECHD Board's decisions are the product of five members' efforts, skills and experiences thereby strengthening the ECHD Board's deliberative process to act in the best interests of the community served by ECHD.

4. Each ECHD Board member should exercise integrity, deliberate together, and foster a positive working relationship with other ECHD Board members and staff, and act in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and the Public Records Act.

5. Each ECHD Board member must be aware of and declare any conflict of interest and must recuse themselves from voting on any matter for which they have a conflict. Financial conflicts must be identified promptly and addressed properly. Each ECHD Board member must take certain training and complete and file Forms 460, 470 and 700, as required. For more information visit the California Fair Political Practices Commission website.

6. ECHD Board members may request compensation in the amount of $100.00 for attendance at each Regular, Special and Emergency Meeting of the ECHD Board and ECHD Board Committees (presently, there are no ECHD Board committees) not to exceed five meetings per month.

Election Information

Election information is available from the official site of the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. Their website contains information about voter registration, election dates and candidate forms for all Santa Clara County offices, including El Camino Healthcare District (ECHD) board positions.

Dates and deadline information for candidates and voters is available here: Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.

The El Camino Healthcare District does not endorse, either expressly or implied, any candidate for public office.

Reimbursement and Compensation

Please visit the Reimbursement and Compensation Policy page for information about compensation, stipends and expense reimbursement policies and procedures. Director Compensation is defined in the ECHD Bylaws under Article IV Directors and Vacancies, Section 3, Director Compensation.

Further information about the compensation of public officials and employees can also be found on the California State Controller's Office website.