(a) A scholar shall do all of the following:
(1) Agree to complete abortion training as part of their health care education and to provide, or participate on a team that provides, reproductive health services with the inclusion of medical abortion or procedural abortion and miscarriage management.
(2) Commit to working for three years at a corps-approved site in one of the following areas or with one of the following populations:
(A) A health professional shortage area, as designated by the HRSA.
(B) A medically underserved area or with a medically underserved population, as mapped by the HRSA.
(C) A Maternity Care Health Professional Target Area, as designated by HRSA, or a maternity care desert, as designated by the March of Dimes.
(D) A rural area, as designated by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
(E) A California county identified to have no abortion services.
(F) An area where the majority of patients are covered under the Medi-Cal program.
(3) Agree, in writing, that if the scholar fails to complete the period of obligated service at a corps-approved site, they will be in breach of contract.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), a scholar or a site may petition the corps for approval of a site based on the reproductive health needs of specific communities or populations or the area’s specific linguistic needs.
(c) With the authorization of the corps, a scholar may transfer to a new site to complete their obligated service. The corps shall define the criteria for transfer eligibility. Under certain defined conditions, the corps shall assist the scholar to find a new approved site.
(d) When a scholar is employed at a corps-approved site, the scholar shall be subject to the personnel system of that entity.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 561, Sec. 2. (AB 1918) Effective January 1, 2023.)