Amended  IN  Senate  February 26, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 909

Introduced by Senator Umberg

January 08, 2024

An act relating to criminal procedure. to amend Section 128555 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to physicians and surgeons, and making an appropriation therefor.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 909, as amended, Umberg. Criminal procedure. Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program.
Existing law establishes the Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program (program) in the California Physician Corps Program within the Health Professions Education Foundation, which provides financial incentives, including repayment of educational loans, to a physician and surgeon who practices in a medically underserved area, as defined. Existing law establishes the Medically Underserved Account for Physicians, a continuously appropriated account, within the Health Professions Education Fund, to primarily provide funding for the ongoing operations of the program. Existing law prohibits loan repayments under the program from exceeding $105,000 per individual licensed physician, and from exceeding the amount of the educational loans incurred by the physician participant.
This bill would remove the maximum limit for loan repayments per individual licensed physician that may be provided to a program participant who has completed 3 consecutive years of providing services as a physician in a medically underserved area. By expanding the authorization amount for the use of moneys in the Medically Underserved Account for Physicians, the bill would make an appropriation.

Existing law establishes various procedures related to the arrest, search, seizure, trial, and sentencing of individuals accused of a crime.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation related to these procedures.

Vote: MAJORITY2/3   Appropriation: NOYES   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 128555 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

128555.
 (a) The Medically Underserved Account for Physicians is hereby established within the Health Professions Education Fund. The primary purpose of this account is to provide funding for the ongoing operations of the Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program provided for under this article. This account also may be used to provide funding for the Physician Volunteer Program provided for under this article.
(b) All moneys in the Medically Underserved Account contained within the Contingent Fund of the Medical Board of California shall be transferred to the Medically Underserved Account for Physicians on July 1, 2006.
(c) Funds in the account shall be used to repay loans as follows per agreements made with physicians:
(1) Funds paid out for loan repayment may have a funding match from foundations or other private sources.

(2)Loan repayments may not exceed one hundred five thousand dollars ($105,000) per individual licensed physician.

(3)

(2) Loan repayments may not exceed the amount of the educational loans incurred by the physician participant.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 11105 of the Government Code, effective January 1, 2006, the department may seek and receive matching funds from foundations and private sources to be placed in the account. “Matching funds” shall not be construed to be limited to a dollar-for-dollar match of funds.
(e) Funds placed in the account for purposes of this article, including funds received pursuant to subdivision (d), are, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, continuously appropriated for the repayment of loans. This subdivision shall not apply to funds placed in the account pursuant to Section 1341.45 and Section 14197.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(f) The account shall also be used to pay for the cost of administering the program and for any other purpose authorized by this article. The costs for administration of the program may be up to 5 percent of the total state appropriation for the program and shall be subject to review and approval annually through the state budget process. This limitation shall only apply to the state appropriation for the program.
(g) The department shall manage the account established by this section prudently in accordance with the other provisions of law.

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation related to criminal procedure.