BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: ACR 1
AUTHOR: Medina
INTRODUCED: December 3, 2012
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: June 5, 2013
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Daniel Alvarez
SUBJECT : University of California: UC Riverside (UCR) School of
Medicine.
SUMMARY
This resolution states that the University of California,
Riverside School of Medicine serves an important role in the
State of California by training a diverse workforce of
physicians and providing health care to an underserved region.
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.
ANALYSIS
This resolution makes specific findings and states that the
University of California, Riverside School of Medicine serves an
important role in the State of California by training a diverse
workforce of physicians and providing health care to an
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underserved region.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Further background . 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 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 University of California, Riverside 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 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) 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 University of
California (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.
3) Related legislation . SB 21 (Roth) appropriates on an
annual basis $15 million to the University of California
for the school of medicine on the Riverside campus. This
bill passed on a 9-0 vote in this committee. It is
currently pending committee referral in the Assembly.
4) Past legislation . AB 1309 (Miller, 2012) would have
appropriated $15 million, from an expected settlement, to
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the UC for the UC Riverside School of Medicine. This
measure was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
SUPPORT
None on file.
OPPOSITION
None on file.