2021-2022 State Budget Makes Significant Investments in Senate District 31

(SACRAMENTO) – Today, Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) outlined some of the transformative regional investments coming to Inland Southern California, as outlined in the 2021-2022 California State Budget:

“When I first campaigned for the State Senate in 2012, I pushed for a long overdue medical school for UCR because of our critical need for healthcare workers.  I have continued to fight for full recognition, respect, and resources for our underserved Region ever since.  These budget investments move us closer to that goal,” said Senator Roth.

Key Highlights of the 2021-2022 State Budget include:

• Securing the Future of the UC Riverside School of Medicine – $10 million to the UC Riverside (UCR) School of Medicine to begin the process of securing an acute care teaching hospital in Riverside County to serve as a new UC academic medical center, training medical students, medical residents, and medical fellows, and helping to alleviate the Region’s critical healthcare provider and facility shortages.

• Alleviating Inland Southern California’s Dire Shortage of Primary Care Providers – $1.8 million to establish a Master of Science Physician Assistant (MSPA) program at CSU San Bernardino— the first of its kind offered by a Southern California public university. At full capacity, the MSPA program will produce 85 physician assistants annually, helping historically underserved communities throughout the region combat the negative health impacts of the primary care provider shortage.

• Educating Inland Southern California’s Emerging Clean Tech Workforce – $15 million to help anchor Phase I of the Region’s OASIS clean technology center— initiating the development of a new UCR College of Engineering, Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) education and research facility to be co-located with the new California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Southern California Headquarters in Riverside. Establishing the direct nexus between UCR and CARB will provide students with the unique opportunity to further their education through cutting-edge research projects. This will help California meet its clean energy and environmental targets while transforming the future of our region by creating high-skill, high-wage jobs in the clean energy and environmental sectors.

Senator Roth continued: “I am honored to work with my colleagues in the Legislature and the Administration to deliver these critical projects to our Region and will continue to fight to ensure that our Region continues to get the recognition, respect, and resources that it needs, and deserves!”

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Senator Richard D. Roth represents the 31st State Senate District, which includes the communities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, March Air Reserve Base, Moreno Valley, Norco, Perris, and Riverside. Prior to his election, he served for 32 years in the United States Air Force, retiring in 2007 in the grade of Major General. More information about Senator Roth can be found at sd31.senate.ca.gov.