BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 21
Author: Roth (D), et al.
Amended: 5/24/13
Vote: 27 - Urgency
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 9-0, 4/17/13
AYES: Liu, Wyland, Block, Correa, Hancock, Hueso, Huff,
Jackson, Monning
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 5/23/13
AYES: De Le�n, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
SUBJECT : University of California: University of California
Riverside Medical School: funding
SOURCE : California Medical Association
DIGEST : This bill annually appropriates $15 million from the
General Fund (GF) to the Regents of the University of California
(UC) for allocation to the School of Medicine at the UC
Riverside (UCR) campus. 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.
ANALYSIS : UCR'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
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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.
California Constitution Section 9, Article IX creates the UC to
be administered by the Regents with full powers of organization
and government.
Section 1, Article IV vests legislative powers in the
Legislature which consists of the Senate and Assembly and
empowers the Legislature with the ability to appropriate funds
with a 2/3-vote, except the budget bill and bills appropriating
funds for the public schools.
This bill annually appropriates $15 million from the GF to the
Regents of the UC for allocation to the School of Medicine at
the UCR campus. 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.
Comments
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 UCR campus fully meets the CPEC'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.
Prior legislation . AB 1309 (Miller, 2012) would have
appropriated $15 million, from an expected settlement, to the UC
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for the UCR School of Medicine. The bill was held in the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this bill
makes a $15 million annual appropriation from the GF to UCR.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/24/13)
California Medical Association (source)
American College of Emergency Physicians
Bourns, Gordon Bourns, CEO
California Association of Physician Groups
California Primary Care Association
City of Murrieta
Enterprise Media and the Press-Enterprise
Inland Empire Economic Partnership
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones
Kaiser Permanente
Mayor Rusty Bailey, City of Riverside
Medical Board of California
Riverside County Superintendent of Schools
Southwest California Legislative Council
Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors
University of California
University of California Riverside Alumni Association
Western Riverside Council of Governments
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
Inland Southern California has one of the most severe shortages
of primary care physicians in the nation. Both Riverside and
San Bernardino counties only have 36 and 44 primary care
physicians per 100,000 residents, far below the federally
recommended ratios of 60 to 80 physicians. This crisis will
only worsen unless more doctors are educated and trained
locally. The 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 $10
million per year for 10 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
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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.
PQ:k 5/24/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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