19130.5.
(a) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 19130, by January 1, 2025, the State Department of State Hospitals shall establish a physician registry for the Patton State Hospital under a three-year pilot program. The physician registry shall be maintained by the department and composed of members of State Bargaining Unit 16 - Physicians, Dentists, and Podiatrists (BU 16), who may elect to join the registry.(2) A physician who joins the registry and works additional hours as a result of being on the registry shall be compensated for the additional hours, as determined by the department in a manner necessary to attract employee participation in the registry.
(b) (1) The department shall conduct a semiannual survey of managers and employees to determine the efficacy of the registry. A major factor in the surveys will be whether the registry provides cost savings to the state. The survey shall be jointly developed between the department and BU 16. The department shall post the survey results on its internet website.
(2) By January 10, 2026, and each year thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the department shall submit a report to the Legislature that includes a study of the effectiveness of the registry to determine if the registry compensation rates were successful in addressing the operational needs for flexible services at a lower cost than contract registries.
(3) The final report submitted by the department at the end of the pilot shall include recommendations on whether the registry should be expanded to all state hospitals under its jurisdiction.
(4) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(c) This section shall be implemented only if an appropriation for this express purpose is made by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or other statute. The department shall make a budget request for the funds necessary to establish and maintain the registry for the duration of the pilot program.
(d)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.