13 Ky. Admin. Regs. 5:010

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 13 KAR 5:010 - Healthcare training scholarships

RELATES TO: KRS 164.0401, 164.0402, 164.0403

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 164.0402 requires the Council on Postsecondary Education to promulgate administrative regulations to administer the Kentucky healthcare workforce investment fund. KRS 164.0403 requires the Council to set forth the requirements for partnership proposals between healthcare providers and healthcare partners to provide healthcare training scholarships to Kentucky residents enrolled in eligible healthcare programs in Kentucky. This administrative regulation establishes the Kentucky Healthcare Training Scholarships, established in KRS 164.0402, designed to reduce the financial barriers of Kentucky residents seeking high-demand eligible healthcare credentials.

Section 1. Definitions.

(1) "Council" is defined by KRS 164.001(8).

(2) "Eligible healthcare credential" is defined by KRS 164.0401.

(3) "Eligible entity" means an entity that offers a healthcare program.

(4) "Fund" means the healthcare workforce investment fund as established by KRS 164.0402.

(5) "Healthcare partner" is defined by KRS 164.0401(5).

(6) "Healthcare program" is defined by KRS 164.0401(6).

(7) "Kentucky resident" is defined by KRS 164.020(8).

(8) "Match" means general fund appropriation monies from the fund provided to the institution subject to funds availability, based on at least a dollar-for-dollar contribution from the healthcare partner pursuant to KRS 164.0402(3)(a).

(9) "Steering committee" means the healthcare workforce investment steering committee established by the Council for the purpose of advising on issues related to healthcare training scholarships, including determining funding allocations, defining partnership proposal criteria, and making awards. The steering committee shall be comprised of a minimum of nine (9) members who have experience in healthcare programs, healthcare workforce, state government, and a minimum of one (1) member of the Council on Postsecondary Education. On making selections to the committee, and to the extent possible, the Council shall ensure equal representation of the experiences listed, and diversity in geography, healthcare program discipline, and size of healthcare workforce provider.

Section 2. Notice of Funding Opportunities.

(1) Each year that general fund appropriations are available for distribution through the healthcare workforce investment fund, the Council shall publish notice of availability of funding opportunities for partnerships and issue a request for partnership proposals.

(2) The notice and request for partnership proposals shall include:

(a) The funding period;

(b) The date by which to submit a partnership proposal;

(c) The dollar amount of available matching funds;

(d) The partnership proposal evaluation criteria and relative weighting of each criterion;

(e) How to submit a partnership proposal; and

(f) The targeted date for making awards.

Section 3. Partnership Proposals. To be eligible for funding, a partnership proposal shall include:

(1) The participating healthcare partners and healthcare programs certified by the signature of their respective chief executive officers and a designated point of contact and contact information for each partner;

(2) Certification that the healthcare program is offered by an eligible entity and that completion of the program meets eligibility requirements for certification or license in Kentucky;

(3) The total proposed budget for the program, which includes the healthcare partner contribution and the amount of healthcare workforce investment funds requested for match in accordance with requirements set forth by the Council;

(4) A narrative explaining how the institution plans to use the healthcare partner contribution and match from the fund to award healthcare training scholarships in eligible healthcare credentials;

(5) A description of the healthcare program's plan for student recruitment, scholarship award criteria, and selection process;

(6) An explanation of how the healthcare program shall increase student enrollment in eligible healthcare credentials, program completion, and meet local, regional, or state workforce demands;

(7) An explanation of how the healthcare partner shall onboard and retain graduates;

(8) An explanation of how graduates shall be supported through their service obligations;

(9) A response to any other partnership proposal criteria as determined by the steering committee;

(10) A description of how the partnership proposal shall meet the priorities set forth in KRS 164.0403;

(11) A statement of assurances that statutory requirements shall be satisfied as set forth in KRS 164.0403; and

(12) The amount of the healthcare partner's contribution certified by its chief financial officer and supported by appropriate documentation.

Section 4. Evaluation Process.

(1) The steering committee shall review and rank each completed and timely submitted proposal on the extent to which the application meets the priorities set forth in Section 3 of this administrative regulation.

(2) Once the proposals are evaluated and ranked, the steering committee shall consider the distribution of funds to avoid a concentration in a small number of partnerships before determining final amounts awarded and the number of awards to be made.

(3) Once award distributions are finalized by the steering committee and approved by the Council, the Council shall notify the designated points of contact of the award.

Section 5. Partnership Awards.

(1) Upon award, the Council, the healthcare partner, and healthcare program shall enter into a partnership contract in accordance with the terms set forth in KRS 164.0403.

(2) Once the partnership contract is finalized, the Council shall disburse from the fund monies deposited by the healthcare partner and the matching funds appropriated by the General Assembly to the healthcare program.

Section 6. Responsibilities of the Healthcare Program. After an award is made and a partnership contract is finalized, a healthcare program shall:

(1) Establish and enforce a healthcare training scholarship application and process for solicitation, acceptance, and review of scholarship applications from students who are Kentucky residents in collaboration with the partner healthcare partner;

(2) Encourage healthcare training scholarship applicants to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, if applicable;

(3) Establish healthcare training scholarship deadlines;

(4) Award healthcare training scholarships;

(5) Develop and administer a scholarship contract between the recipient and the healthcare program in accordance with KRS 164.0403; and

(6) Meet any reporting requirements set forth in the partnership contract.

13 KAR 5:010

50 Ky.R. 486, 1036; eff. 12/11/2023.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 164.0402, 164.0403