The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

1. (a) Qualified clinics, as defined in this article, are fundamental to the California health care safety net, as their mission is to provide primary and preventive care to low-income and underserved populations.
2. (b) Stability in the California qualified clinic workforce will further the Legislature’s efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and address other public health issues that face Californians.
3. (c) Retention payments will help retain qualified health care workers, in particular registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, licensed clinical social workers, licensed mental health workers, medical assistants, and advanced practice professionals.