If passed, a new bill dubbed the "Grown Our Own" bill would require the University of California to construct a medical school in Kern County should "certain funding thresholds" be met.
The bill, introduced by California state Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, MD, would also create an endowment within the California State Treasury that can accept public, private, and nonprofit funds, according to a Feb. 14 news release from Dr. Bains.
"A medical school can do a lot of good for our community," Dr. Bains said. "We can address health care shortages, we can train more doctors and nurses, we can create more good paying jobs and diversify our economy. This is the way that we start to tackle our health care issues in the valley."
Now that the bill has been introduced, it will go to the rules committee of the house of origin where it is then assigned to an appropriate policy committee for a first hearing.