Senate OKs Transfer of Hospital Property

The state Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a bill authored by Sen. Jack O’Connell that would transfer Camarillo State Hospital to the Cal State University system after the mental institution closes June 30.

The bill, aimed at hastening conversion of the hospital into the 23rd Cal State campus, comes about a week after the Senate’s budget subcommittee earmarked $1.6 million to university trustees for ongoing design and development of the proposed Cal State Channel Islands.

“My colleagues are very much aware of the challenges Venturans have faced over the past 30 years to bring higher education to the county,” O’Connell (D-San Luis Obispo) said in a prepared statement.

“They were supportive of the fact that Ventura County needs and deserves a four-year public university before the turn of the century.”

Senate Bill 623 would transfer the hospital property to the Cal State system after trustees endorse a proposal to convert the psychiatric hospital into a college campus.

The legislation includes provisions to allow trustees to partner with area businesses and government agencies to make the campus a reality.

Cal State officials have said the state hospital cannot be transformed into a four-year university unless almost the entire campus is dedicated to a range of income-generating ventures.

The bill now heads to the Assembly, where O’Connell expects it to be scheduled for hearings in coming months.