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

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.