BILL ANALYSIS
SB 645
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 23, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Anthony Portantino, Chair
SB 645 (Denham) - As Amended: April 29, 2009
SENATE VOTE : 35-0
SUBJECT : Public higher education: training programs at
military facilities.
SUMMARY : Allows the University of California (UC), California
State University (CSU), or the California Community Colleges
(CCC) to coordinate with the United States (US) Armed Forces to
establish training programs at military bases. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Establishes Legislative intent to maximize the use of closed
or underused medical facilities located on US Armed Forces
military bases through the establishment of cooperative
agreements with California's public postsecondary education
institutions to provide medical and allied health education
and/or direct clinical services.
2)Establishes that nothing in California law prohibits UC, CSU,
or CCC from coordinating with the US Armed Forces to establish
training programs at military facilities.
EXISTING LAW declares that there is nothing in state policy that
requires the (a) establishment or disestablishment of any armed
forces training unit or class from the campus of any public
postsecondary institution or (b) the prohibition of employment
recruitment by the US Armed Forces on public postsecondary
institutions.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : Purpose of this bill : According to the author, this
bill is intended to clarify that UC, CSU and CCC are allowed to
coordinate with the US Armed Forces to establish medical
training programs on military bases. The author believes that
allowing California's public higher education institutions to
use closed and/or underused medical facilities located on US
Armed Forces military bases through cooperative agreements will
create more opportunities for students. Additionally, the
SB 645
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author notes that "returning veterans and retirees have taken a
hit in the availability of health care because many military
doctors are deployed." The author believes that expanding
direct clinical services would provide veterans with greater
access to health care upon returning home.
Ongoing Partnership Efforts : Committee staff understands that
Travis Air Force Base in Solano County and March Air Force Base
in Riverside County have the capacity to expand direct clinical
services and make facilities available for medical education
purposes. According to the author's staff, initial efforts to
accomplish these goals were hindered by concerns that state law
does not allow such partnerships to occur. The intent of this
bill is to clarify that such partnerships are allowable and
encouraged.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Solano County Board of Supervisors
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960