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AB-1444 Physicians and surgeons and registered nurses: loan repayment grants.(2019-2020)

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Date Published: 03/25/2019 09:00 PM
AB1444:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 25, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1444

Introduced by Assembly Member Flora
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Diep)

February 22, 2019

An act to amend Section 11999.2 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to drugs and alcohol. An act to add Article 7 (commencing with Section 128590) to Chapter 5 of Part 3 of Division 107 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to health care providers.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1444, as amended, Flora. Drug- or alcohol- related programs: “no unlawful use” requirement. Physicians and surgeons and registered nurses: loan repayment grants.
Existing law establishes within the Health Professions Education Foundation the California Physician Corps Program, which includes the Steven M. Thompson Medical School Scholarship Program. Existing law provides student loan repayments for a physician and surgeon who agrees, in writing, prior to completing an accredited medical or osteopathic school based in the United States, to serve in an eligible practice setting in a medically underserved area for at least 3 years.
This bill would establish within the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development the Primary Care Student Loan Repayment Program to provide loan repayment awards of up to $50,000 to physicians and surgeons and registered nurses who provide 32 hours a week or more of direct care service for a period of 2 years in either a federally designated health professional shortage area (HPSA) or primary care shortage area (PCSA) in California. The bill would establish in the State Treasury the Primary Care Student Loan Repayment Program Fund, to be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, by the office to administer the program.

Existing law prohibits state funds from being encumbered by a state agency for allocation to an entity, whether public or private, for a drug- or alcohol-related program, unless the drug- or alcohol-related program contains a component that clearly explains, in written materials, that unlawful use of drugs or alcohol is prohibited. Existing law prohibits these programs from including a message on the responsible use, if the use is unlawful, of drugs or alcohol.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Article 7 (commencing with Section 128590) is added to Chapter 5 of Part 3 of Division 107 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:
Article  7. Primary Care Student Loan Repayment Program

128590.
 (a) There is hereby established within the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development the Primary Care Student Loan Repayment Program to provide loan repayment awards of up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per participant.
(b) There is hereby established in the State Treasury the Primary Care Student Loan Repayment Program Fund, which shall be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, by the office to administer the program established pursuant to this article.

128591.
 (a) Applications for loan repayment awards shall be completed on forms established by the office.
(b) To be eligible for a loan repayment award, the applicant shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Be either of the following:
(A) A physician and surgeon, licensed pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code or pursuant to the Osteopathic Act.
(B) A registered nurse, licensed pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 2700) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.
(2) Be in good standing with the applicable licensing board.
(3) Provide 32 hours or more a week of direct patient care for two years.
(4) Provide service in a federally designated health professional shortage area (HPSA) or primary care shortage area (PCSA) in California.
(5) Have outstanding educational debt from either a government or commercial institution.

SECTION 1.Section 11999.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
11999.2.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, commencing July 1, 1990, state funds shall not be encumbered by a state agency for allocation to an entity, whether public or private, for a drug- or alcohol-related program, unless the drug- or alcohol-related program contains a component that clearly explains, in written materials, that unlawful use of drugs or alcohol is prohibited. No aspect of a drug- or alcohol-related program shall include a message on the responsible use, if the use is unlawful, of drugs or alcohol.

(b) (1)All aspects of a drug- or alcohol-related program shall be consistent with the “no unlawful use” message, including, but not limited to, program standards, curricula, materials, and teachings.

(2)These materials and programs may include information regarding the health hazards of using illegal drugs and alcohol, concepts promoting the well-being of the whole person, risk reduction, the addictive personality, development of positive self-esteem, productive decisionmaking skills, and other preventive concepts consistent with the “no unlawful use” of drugs and alcohol message.

(c) The “no unlawful use” of drugs and alcohol message contained in drug- or alcohol-related programs shall apply to the use of drugs and alcohol prohibited by law.

(d) This section does not apply to a program funded by the state that provides education and prevention outreach to intravenous drug users with AIDS or AIDS-related conditions, or persons at risk of HIV-infection through intravenous drug use.