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

Assembly Member Bains' proposal for a comprehensive feasibility study to establish a University of California medical school in Kern County responds to the region's documented healthcare professional shortages. The legislation requires UC to evaluate site locations, infrastructure needs, faculty recruitment strategies, and curriculum development by January 1, 2027.

The mandated study must analyze construction requirements, accreditation pathways through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, and financial projections including anticipated costs and funding sources. UC must consult with local stakeholders throughout the process, including the Kern County Medical Society, Kern Medical Hospital Authority, Kern Family Health Care, and healthcare worker unions. The analysis will also examine graduate medical education opportunities and propose methods to secure residency positions within Kern County for the school's future graduates.

The bill builds upon the existing University of California Kern County Medical Education Endowment Fund, which provides operational support for developing a UC medical school branch campus in the region. Upon completion, UC must submit detailed findings, recommendations, and implementation timelines to the Governor and Legislature while making the full study publicly accessible online. The legislation includes an urgency clause citing physician shortages in Kern County, allowing it to take effect immediately upon passage with a two-thirds vote.