Transition to Full Autonomy

A three

(3)year transition period shall commence upon enactment of this Act, during which the GCHC shall work toward full administrative and operational independence. Upon completion of the transition period, all duties, authorities, and resources currently administered by the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) under the Guam Community Health Centers Program, pursuant to Article 8, Chapter 3 of Title 10, Guam Code Annotated, shall be fully transferred to the GCHC as established under this Chapter.

(a)The GCHC shall directly apply for federal grants and assume responsibility for all federal compliance, program administration, and service delivery functions for the program.

(b)All real and personal property, facilities, equipment, supplies, and financial assets allocated to the Guam Community Health Centers Program under DPHSS shall be transferred to the CHC.

(c)All employees assigned to the Guam Community Health Centers Program under DPHSS shall be transferred to the GCHC. Transferred personnel shall retain their current employment status, salaries, accrued benefits, and rights under applicable government employment laws.

(d)The current bylaws shall remain in effect for twelve

(12)months or until new bylaws can be adopted, whichever comes first.

(e)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the Department of Administration (DOA), shall provide interim technical assistance to the GCHC, in the following areas: CH. 3. PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

(1)Developing and implementing its own financial management system, including accounting, payroll, and other internal fiscal controls.

(2)Establishing a human resource management system for hiring.

(3)Assist the GCHC in developing and adopting procurement rules and procedures consistent with applicable government and federal guidelines.

(f)All contracts’ agreements, and memoranda of understanding or agreement related to the Guam Community Health Centers Program shall remain in effect unless terminated by the GCHC.

(g)Upon request by the GCHC and with notification submitted to I Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan and I Liheslaturan Guåhan, the transition period may be extended for one

(1)year at a time, not to exceed a total of three

(3)additional years. Any request for extension shall include a status report on transition progress and a revised timeline for completion.