Section 35 - [Effective 7/1/2024] Vermont health care professional loan repayment program(a) As used in this section: (1) "AHEC" means the Vermont Area Health Education Centers program.(2) "Eligible individual" means an individual who satisfies the eligibility requirements for loan repayment under this section.(3) "Eligible school" means an approved postsecondary education institution, as defined under 16 V.S.A. § 2822.(4) "Loan repayment" means the repayment of loans under this section. (5) "Loans" means education loans guaranteed, made, financed, serviced, or otherwise administered by an accredited educational lender for attendance at an eligible school.(6) "Program" means the Vermont Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program created under this section.(b) The Vermont Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program is created and shall be administered by the Department of Health in collaboration with AHEC. The Program provides loan repayment on behalf of individuals who live and work in this State as a nurse, physician assistant, medical lab technician, medical lab technologist, clinical laboratory scientist, child psychiatrist, or primary care provider and who meet the eligibility requirements in subsection (d) of this section.(c) The loan repayment benefits provided under the Program shall be paid on behalf of the eligible individual by AHEC, subject to the appropriation of funds by the General Assembly for this purpose.(d) To be eligible for loan repayment under the Program, an individual shall satisfy all of the following requirements: (1) have graduated from an eligible school where the individual was awarded a degree in nursing, physician assistant studies, medicine, osteopathic medicine, or naturopathic medicine, or a two- or four-year degree that qualifies the individual to be a medical lab technician, medical lab technologist, or clinical laboratory scientist;(2) work in this State as a nurse, physician assistant, medical lab technician, medical lab technologist, or clinical laboratory scientist, child psychiatrist, or primary care provider; and(3) be a resident of Vermont.(e)(1) An eligible individual shall be entitled to an amount of loan repayment under this section for a defined service obligation in Vermont of not less than one year. Employment as a traveling nurse shall not be construed to satisfy the service commitment required under this section.(2) AHEC shall award loan repayments in amounts that are sufficient to attract high-quality candidates while also making a meaningful increase in Vermont's health care professional workforce.(f) Loan repayment shall be awarded on a rolling basis, provided funds are available, and any funds remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall carry forward and shall be available to the Department of Health and AHEC in the following fiscal year to award additional loan repayment as set forth in this section. * * *
Amended by 2024, No. 113,§ E.311, eff. 7/1/2024.Added by 2022 , No. 183, § 26, eff. 7/1/2022.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.