SACRAMENTO A pair of Riverside Democrats made their case Thursday to a panel of Senate budget writers that this years state spending plan needs to include $15 million for UC Riversides medical school.

The medical schools future depends on lawmakers appropriating the money, Assemblyman Jose Medina and state Sen. Richard Roth told the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committees education subcommittee.

Riverside County and other donors have committed $18 million to the school, which is scheduled to open later this year. Some of that money, though, hinges on the state funding, as does extending the schools accreditation next year.

Without the $15 million were talking about today, the community commitments associated with that may dry up, the preliminary accreditation that the medical school received will be pulled undoubtedly, and the school will fail, Roth testified.

There were no votes Thursday. The panels three members seemed to agree on the need for the school in the medically underserved Inland region but all stepped well short of pledging to support allocating state money to it.

The last four years, weve made some awful cuts that just tore at your heartstrings, state Sen. Rod Wright, D-Inglewood, told Roth and Medina. If I had it, it would be an easy call. I dont think we have $15 million just sitting around unspent.

Supporters say the school will address a severe shortage of primary-care physicians in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The need will only grow as the state expands the low-income Medi-Cal program as part of the federal Affordable Care Act.

University officials and Inland lawmakers have tried since 2008 to secure ongoing state money for the school amid massive budget shortfalls. They received $10 million in 2010 but have come empty since then, forcing officials to postpone the schools first freshman class.

Im not sure that theres an understanding up here that the buildings are in place and how far along the medical school is at UC Riverside, Medina said after the hearing. Im a little surprised.

Another subcommittee member, state Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Escondido, said he supports the medical school.

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MEDICAL SCHOOL : Riverside lawmakers ask for budget appropriation