Assembly BillFailedEducation
AB 1361: University of California: branch campus of a school of medicine in the County of Kern: feasibility study.
What AB 1361 does, verified February 3, 2026
The bill aims to establish a branch campus of an existing university of california school of medicine in Kern County. A feasibility study will be conducted to determine the necessary steps to make this happen. The study will analyze the requirements, challenges, and opportunities related to the new campus. The study's findings, recommendations, and timeline will be submitted to the governor and legislature within two years. The study will include consultation with local stakeholders. The bill declares that it will take effect immediately, as an urgency statute.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
2In CommitteeCurrent
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| May. 23, 2025 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Apr. 23, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. |
| Apr. 21, 2025 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
Latest bill textAmended version, April 10, 2025 · 896 words
| Amended IN Assembly April 10, 2025 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 26, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1361
| Introduced by Assembly Member Bains |
February 21, 2025 |
An act to add Section 92170 to the Education Code, relating to the University of California, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1361, as amended, Bains. University of California: branch campus of a school of medicine in the County of Kern: feasibility study.
Existing law establishes the University of California Kern County Medical Education Endowment Fund. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, existing law requires moneys in the endowment fund to be allocated to the University of California to support the annual operating costs for the development, operation, and maintenance of a branch campus of an existing University of California School of Medicine in the County of Kern, and to conduct a feasibility study related to that campus.
This bill would require the University of California, on or before January 1, 2027, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to complete a feasibility study, in consultation with local voluntary and reasonably attempt to consult with local stakeholders, to determine the steps necessary to establish a branch campus of an existing University of California medical school in the County of Kern, and to submit the feasibility study, on or before 2 years after the date of the appropriation, including detailed findings, recommendations, and an implementation timeline, to the Governor and Legislature, as provided. The bill would require the feasibility study to include a comprehensive analysis of the requirements, challenges, and opportunities related to establishing a branch campus of an existing University of California medical school in the County of Kern, as provided.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the County of Kern Grow Our Own Medical School Feasibility Study Act.SEC. 2.
Section 92170 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 92169, to read:92170.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) There is a growing need for health care professionals in California, particularly in underserved regions, including the County of Kern.
(2) Establishing a branch campus of an existing University of California medical school in the County of Kern will help address this need by training the next generation of medical professionals and improving access to health care in the region.
(3) The state has established an endowment fund to support the development of a branch campus of an existing University of California medical school in the County of Kern.
(4) A comprehensive feasibility study is necessary to determine the specific requirements and steps for establishing this a branch campus of an existing medical school, including site selection, construction needs, faculty recruitment, adequate resources, clinical practice agreements, curriculum development, and licensure. accreditation.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 67400, the University of California shall, on or before January 1, 2027, upon appropriation by the Legislature, do both of the following:
(1) (A) Complete a feasibility study, in consultation with local voluntary study and reasonably attempt to consult with local stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Kern County Medical Society, the Kern Medical Hospital Authority, Kern Family Health Care, at least one labor union representing University of California patient care and technical employees, and at least one labor union representing health care workers in the County of Kern, to determine the steps necessary to establish a branch campus of an existing University of California medical school in the County of Kern.
(B) The feasibility study shall include a comprehensive analysis of the requirements, challenges, and opportunities related to establishing a branch campus of an existing University of California medical school in the County of Kern, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(i) The identification of potential sites for the branch campus of a medical school.
(ii) An assessment of construction and infrastructure needs for the branch campus of a medical school. school, and an assessment of the ability to comply with all the resource requirements of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
(iii) Recommended recruitment strategies for qualified faculty and staff.
(iv)Development of a medical education curriculum.
(v)
(iv)
An(vi)
(v)
A financial analysis, including, but not limited to, projected costs and potential funding sources.(vii)
(vi)
A review of graduate medical education opportunities in the County of Kern and recommendations on how to ensure that graduates of the branch campus of a medical school in the County of Kern(2) (A) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, submit the feasibility study, including detailed findings, recommendations, and an implementation timeline, on or before two years from the date of the appropriation described in this subdivision, to the Governor and the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(B) The University of California shall make the feasibility study submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) also available in an electronic format on its internet website.
Text of AB 1361 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions