Bill Text: CA SB131 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: University of California: medical education.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2016-02-01 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB131 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB131-Amended.html

---

BILL NUMBER: SB 131	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 12, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 29, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Cannella
   (Principal  coauthor:   Senator 
 Galgiani   coauthors:  Senators 
 Galgiani   and Vidak  )
   (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gray  
Alejo,   Gray,  and Olsen)

                        JANUARY 22, 2015

   An act relating to the University of California, and making an
appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 131, as amended, Cannella. University of California: medical
education.
   Existing provisions of the California Constitution establish the
University of California as a public trust under the administration
of the Regents of the University of California. The University of
California system includes 10 campuses, which are located in
Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego,
San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz.
   This bill would express findings and declarations of the
Legislature relating to the role of the University of California with
respect to access to health care in the San Joaquin Valley.
   The bill would appropriate $1,855,000 from the General Fund to the
regents each fiscal year, commencing with the 2016-17 fiscal year,
for allocation to the University of California to support expansion
of the San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education, as specified.

   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public
Law 111-148) provides millions of previously uninsured Californians
access to health services, including physician care. As a result of
this additional demand for physician services, California's projected
statewide physician shortfall is 17,000 by 2015.
   (b) The San Joaquin Valley, which runs from Stockton to
Bakersfield, is rich in cultural diversity and is the nation's
leading agricultural region. However, the valley is
disproportionately affected by the state's physician shortage, which
is expected to intensify in the years ahead given the high rate of
population growth in the area.  Access to health care is 31
percent lower in the San Joaquin Valley than in the rest of
California.  
   (c) Access to physicians in the San Joaquin Valley is already well
below the recommended level of 60 to 80 primary care physicians per
100,000 people, with only 48 primary care physicians per 100,000
people in the valley. Additionally, more than 30 percent of
California physicians are over 60 years of age.  
   (c) 
    (d)  Several regions of the San Joaquin Valley are
federally designated medically underserved areas (MUAs). The
calculation of MUAs involves four variables: ratio of primary medical
care physicians per 1,000 population, infant mortality rate,
percentage of the population with incomes below the poverty level,
and percentage of the population 65 years of age or over. 
   (d) 
    (e)  UC  Merced's   Merced 
San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education  (PRIME)
  (SJV PRIME)  is providing a key interim resource
for training valley health care providers. This program accomplishes
all of the following:
   (1) Strengthens the desire for new physicians to practice in the
San Joaquin Valley, which is one of California's most medically
underserved areas.
   (2) Reduces health disparities and inequalities in the San Joaquin
Valley.
   (3) Forms lasting relationships between the program and
communities, hospitals, clinics, and physicians to enhance health
care in the region. 
   (e) 
    (f)  Students who take part in  PRIME 
 a program in medical education at a University of California
medical school  benefit from firsthand experience with
interdisciplinary health care by providing care in medically
underserved communities, working with patients and families from
culturally diverse backgrounds, and developing a true understanding
of the issues and conditions that impact access to and quality of
health care in the region. 
   (f)
    (g)  Despite  its   the 
numerous benefits  for its   it provides to the
 region,  SJV  PRIME lacks an ongoing source of funding
for its current enrollment as well as the financial resources to
expand capacity to meet the needs of the valley. 
   (g) 
    (h)  Given the San Joaquin Valley's health care needs,
it is essential for the State of California to continue developing
the valley's health care resources by sustaining the current  SJV
 PRIME enrollment and expanding that program's capacity.
  SEC. 2.  The sum of one million eight hundred fifty-five thousand
dollars ($1,855,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to
the Regents of the University of California each fiscal year,
commencing with the 2016-17 fiscal year, for allocation to the
University of California to support expansion of the San Joaquin
Valley Program in Medical Education to admit up to 12 students per
year and operate the program with up to 48 student participants from
across the four-year curriculum annually.