AB-1361
Health & Public Health

University of California: branch campus of a school of medicine in the County of Kern: feasibility study.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires UC to study establishing a medical school branch campus in Kern County to address physician shortages.
  • Mandates completion of the feasibility study within two years of receiving funding.
  • Requires consultation with local medical organizations and labor unions during the study process.
  • Directs UC to analyze potential sites, costs, and strategies for ensuring graduates can complete residencies locally.

Summary

Assembly Member Bains' proposal for a University of California medical school branch campus in Kern County centers on mandating a comprehensive feasibility study to address physician shortages in the region. Upon legislative appropriation, the University of California must evaluate site locations, infrastructure needs, faculty recruitment strategies, and accreditation requirements for establishing the branch campus.

The feasibility study requires consultation with local stakeholders, including the Kern County Medical Society, Kern Medical Hospital Authority, and healthcare worker unions. The analysis must assess construction needs, financial projections, and graduate medical education opportunities to ensure program graduates can access residencies within Kern County. The University must submit detailed findings, recommendations, and implementation timelines to the Governor and Legislature within two years of receiving appropriation, while also publishing the study on its website.

The measure builds upon the existing University of California Kern County Medical Education Endowment Fund, which supports branch campus development costs. Given the urgent need to address physician shortages affecting public health in Kern County, the bill includes an urgency clause for immediate implementation upon passage.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Higher Education Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Higher Education Hearing
Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Jasmeet BainsD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jasmeet BainsD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Jasmeet Bains
Jasmeet BainsD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Latest Voting History

April 8, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Higher Education Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
100010PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires UC to study establishing a medical school branch campus in Kern County to address physician shortages.
  • Mandates completion of the feasibility study within two years of receiving funding.
  • Requires consultation with local medical organizations and labor unions during the study process.
  • Directs UC to analyze potential sites, costs, and strategies for ensuring graduates can complete residencies locally.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Jasmeet Bains
Jasmeet BainsD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Bains' proposal for a University of California medical school branch campus in Kern County centers on mandating a comprehensive feasibility study to address physician shortages in the region. Upon legislative appropriation, the University of California must evaluate site locations, infrastructure needs, faculty recruitment strategies, and accreditation requirements for establishing the branch campus.

The feasibility study requires consultation with local stakeholders, including the Kern County Medical Society, Kern Medical Hospital Authority, and healthcare worker unions. The analysis must assess construction needs, financial projections, and graduate medical education opportunities to ensure program graduates can access residencies within Kern County. The University must submit detailed findings, recommendations, and implementation timelines to the Governor and Legislature within two years of receiving appropriation, while also publishing the study on its website.

The measure builds upon the existing University of California Kern County Medical Education Endowment Fund, which supports branch campus development costs. Given the urgent need to address physician shortages affecting public health in Kern County, the bill includes an urgency clause for immediate implementation upon passage.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Higher Education Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Higher Education Hearing
Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To print.

Latest Voting History

April 8, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Higher Education Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
100010PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Jasmeet BainsD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jasmeet BainsD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member