BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 27
AUTHOR: Medina
AMENDED: May 24, 2013
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 26, 2013
URGENCY: Yes CONSULTANT:Daniel Alvarez
SUBJECT : University of California: UC Riverside Medical
School: funding.
SUMMARY
This bill, an urgency measure, appropriates $15 million
annually from the General Fund (GF) to the Regents of the
University of California (UC) for allocation to the School
of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside
(UCR). This bill requires the UC Regents to use these
moneys for the sole purpose of funding the School of
Medicine at the UCR, as specified. This bill requires the
School of Medicine at the UCR, to develop a program
consistent with its mission, in conjunction with the health
facilities of its medical residency programs, as specified.
BACKGROUND
UC Riverside's history in medical education dates back to
1974, when the
UCR / UC Los Angeles (UCLA) program in biomedical sciences
was established. The collaboration between the two
campuses educates 28 first-year and 28-second year medical
students at UCR, after which the students leave the region
to finish years 3 and 4 at UCLA and to do their medical
residencies. This collaboration has enabled approximately
700 students to complete their initial years of medical
school at UCR, and their last two years at UCLA where they
are conferred their medical degrees. In 2008, the UC
Regents fully endorsed the curriculum and development of a
medical school on the UCR campus.
Section 9, Article IX of the State Constitution creates the
University of California to be administered by the Regents
with full powers of organization and government.
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Section 1, Article IV vests legislative powers in the
California Legislature which consists of the Senate and
Assembly and empowers the Legislature with the ability to
appropriate funds with a two-thirds vote, except the budget
bill and bills appropriating funds for the public schools.
ANALYSIS
This bill , an urgency measure, appropriates $15 million
annually from the General Fund (GF) to the Regents of the
University of California (UC) for allocation to the School
of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside
(UCR). This bill requires the UC Regents to use these
moneys for the sole purpose of funding the School of
Medicine at the University of California, Riverside (UCR),
as specified. This bill requires the School of Medicine at
the UCR, to develop a program consistent with its mission,
in conjunction with the health facilities of its medical
residency programs, as specified. More specifically, this
bill:
1) Specifies that the UC Regents shall use the money
appropriated by this act for the sole purpose of
funding the School of Medicine at UCR and that it
cannot be used to supplant other funding of the
Regents for the School of Medicine at UCR.
2) Specifies that funds provided shall be available for
planning and startup costs associated with academic
programs to be offered by the School of Medicine at
UCR, including all of the following:
a) Academic planning activities, support of
academic program offerings, and faculty
recruitment;
b) Acquisition of instructional materials and
equipment; and,
c) Ongoing operating support for faculty,
staff, and other annual operating expenses for
the School of Medicine at UCR.
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1) Specifies the School of Medicine at UCR shall develop
a program, consistent with its mission, in conjunction
with the health facilities of its medical residency
programs, to identify eligible medical residents and
to assist those medical residents apply for physician
retention programs, including, but not limited to, the
Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment
Program.
2) Requires, on or before April 1 of each year, that the
UC shall provide progress reports to the relevant
policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature
pertaining to funding, recruitment, hiring, and
outcomes for the School of Medicine at UCR and
specifies that the report shall include, but not be
limited to, information consistent with the published
mission and vision for the School of Medicine at UCR
in the following areas:
a) The number of students who have applied,
been admitted, or been enrolled, broken out by
race, ethnicity, and gender;
b) The number of full-time faculty, part-time
faculty, and administration, broken out by race,
ethnicity, and gender;
c) Funding and progress of ongoing medical
education pipeline programs, including the
UCR/UCLA Thomas Haider Program in Biomedical
Sciences;
d) Operating and capital budgets, including
detail by fund source, and an explanation of how
such funding affects base funding for other
university purposes. The operating budget shall
include a breakdown of research activities,
instruction costs, administration, and executive
management;
e) Efforts to meet the health care delivery
needs of California and the Inland Empire of the
state, including, but not limited to, the
percentage of clinical placements, graduate
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medical education slots, and medical school
graduates in primary care specialties who are
providing service within California's medically
underserved areas and populations; and,
f) A description of faculty research
activities, including information regarding the
diversity of doctoral candidates, and identifying
activities that focus on high priority research
needs with respect to addressing California's
medically underserved areas and populations.
1) Lists a variety of legislative findings and
declarations.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . According to the author, Inland
Southern California has one of the most severe
shortages of primary care physicians in the nation.
Both Riverside and San Bernardino counties with
roughly half the recommended physicians necessary for
the population of the region. This crisis will only
worsen unless more doctors are educated and trained
locally. The University of California, Riverside (UCR)
School of Medicine is the key component to begin
addressing the severe shortage of primary care
physicians in the region. In addition, the community
has pledged millions of dollars per year for ten years
with the belief that state support is also a crucial
component of shared responsibility in the region.
Some of the local funds are subject to a three-year or
five-year review, and without state support there is
an imminent danger these funds will be withdrawn
jeopardizing the School of Medicine's accreditation
when it is up for review before the Licensing
Committee on Medical Education in 2014.
2) 2013 Budget Act (AB 110) and Higher Education Budget
Trailer bill . The proposed Budget Act contains a $2.8
billion General Fund appropriation for the support and
operations of the University of California. In
addition, the Higher Education Trailer bill (AB 94)
contains other statutory changes to implement
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agreements reached in constructing the 2013 Budget.
AB 94, section 16, clarifies that the amount
appropriated in the UC budget item, the sum of $15
million is allocated to the Regents for the School of
Medicine at the UCR campus. AB 94 further clarifies
that the $15 million is available for planning and
startup costs associated with academic programs
offered by the UCR School of Medicine, including
ongoing operational support. Finally, AB 94 requires
UC to report by annually by April 1, progress reports,
as specified, pertaining to funding, recruitment,
hiring, and outcomes for the School of Medicine at
UCR.
Given the outcome of the 2013 Budget negotiations and
the commitments made in uncodified statute (AB 94)
regarding (1) the annual level of funding commitment
-- $15 million; (2) language that clearly articulates
the purposes for which the funding can be used; and
(3) agreed to reporting requirements. Staff
recommends amendments that technically cleanup this
measure as follows:
On page 4, line 8 after funding, insert:
in the annual Budget Act and consistent with AB
94, Section 16, of the 2013-14 Regular Session
On page 4, strike lines 15 through 36.
On page 4, line 4, and page 5, lines 2
and 3, strike "Physician Corps Loan Repayment",
and insert: Medical School Scholarship
On page 5, strike lines 6 through 36.
1) California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) .
Prior to 2011, CPEC was charged, among other things,
with reviewing proposals for new academic and
vocational programs at California's public colleges
and universities and with making recommendations to
the Legislature and Governor. In 2008, the CPEC found
that the UC proposal to establish a School of Medicine
at the Riverside campus fully meets the Commission's
Guidelines for Approval of New Programs. It was also
recommended the UC consider establishing the medical
school at a later date when the state's economic and
fiscal conditions are more favorable.
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2) Related legislation . SB 21 (Roth), pending in
Assembly Higher Education Committee, is nearly
identical to this bill.
3) Past legislation . AB 1309 (Miller, 2012) would have
appropriated $15 million, from an expected settlement,
to the UC for the UCR School of Medicine. This measure
was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
SUPPORT
California Primary Care Association
California Podiatric Medical Association
Medical Board of California
Riverside County Superintendent of Schools
OPPOSITION
None on file.