Medical Loan Programs; AO-K to Work Program; High School Equivalency
Credential; Senate Sub. for HB 2060
Senate Sub. for HB 2060 makes various technical changes to statutes, including
changes to law relating to the Drivers’ Training School License Act. The bill also amends law
relating to the State Medical Student Loan Program and the Medical Residency Bridging
Program (loan programs) and establishes an obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) medical loan
repayment program. Additionally, the bill authorizes several items that qualified students must
be provided reasonable access to under the AO-K to Work Program. Similarly, the bill amends
law to include individuals who receive a high school equivalency (HSE) credential, or who are
pursuing an HSE credential, in the calculation of and subsequent distribution of performance-
based payments for community colleges and technical colleges.
Drivers’ Training School License Act
The bill makes technical changes to the Drivers’ Training School License Act to ensure
that community colleges, rather than students enrolled in community colleges, receive payments
from the State Safety Fund for the number of students who have completed a driver training
course during the past school year.
Medical Loan Programs
Under continuing law, the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) administers the
two loan programs to incentivize the practice of medicine in certain areas of the state and in
certain facilities of the state. The Kansas Medical Student Loan program provides tuition and a
stipend to undergraduate students enrolled in or admitted to the University of Kansas School of
Medicine (KU School of Medicine) who enter into agreements to practice primary care medicine
or psychiatry in areas of need in the state.
University of Kansas School of Medicine Residencies
The bill increases the number of medical student loan agreements available under the
loan programs at the KU School of Medicine from 6 to up to 12. The bill also adds a provision
specifying that the KU School of Medicine may not prohibit nor create substantial impediments
to students in the programs from switching between approved postgraduate residency training
programs.
Medical Residency Training Programs in Obstetrics and Gynecology
The bill includes medical residency training programs in OBGYN as part of the
postgraduate medical residency programs that a person may enter into in order to qualify for
state medical student and medical residency loan assistance.
Kansas Legislative Research Department 1 2023 Summary of Legislation Exemptions
The bill exempts a person, or a person’s spouse, who is unable to satisfy their
obligations due to active military service from paying the 15 percent annual interest rate on any
moneys received under such loan programs. Similarly, the bill allows a person participating in a
health-related fellowship to postpone the obligation to engage in the practice of medicine and
surgery for not more than one year. [Note: Under current law, any person who fails to complete
an approved residency training program or fails to satisfy the obligation to engage in the full-
time practice of medicine and surgery within a service commitment area for the required period
of time must repay all money received from the loan programs, plus accumulated interest at an
annual rate of 15 percent.]
Restrictions on Practice During Service Requirement
The bill prohibits a person who completes an approved OBGYN residency training
program from performing or inducing, or attempting to perform or induce, an abortion during the
time such person is satisfying the service requirement under the loan programs. It also prohibits
such person from creating or working for a clinic that performs or induces abortions during that
time period. A person who fails to satisfy the service requirement due to the performance or
inducement, or attempt at such, of an abortion is required to repay all money received pursuant
to the loan, plus accumulated interest at an annual rate of 15 percent. [Note: A person who
performs or induces, or attempts to perform or induce, an abortion in the case of a medical
emergency or in the case of a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest is not deemed to have
failed to complete the service requirement.]
Funds and Scholarships
The bill also establishes the OBGYN Medical Loan Repayment Fund and the OBGYN
Medical Residency Bridging Fund to be used for OBGYN residency training programs.
The bill authorizes the Kansas Board of Regents to award osteopathic medical service
scholarships to Kansas residents who are undergraduate students enrolled in or admitted to
pre-accredited schools of osteopathic medicine.
AO-K to Work Program
Under current law, the Kansas Board of Regents awards an HSE credential to qualified
students who, among other factors, successfully complete an approved AO-K career pathway
and receive the industry-recognized credential appropriate to the completed pathway. Students
are to be provided reasonable access to all available student resources of the adult education
program, the participating technical or community college, and the appropriate community
partners.
The bill adds several items to the available student resources that qualified students
shall be provided reasonable access to, including books, tools, and personal materials that are
required to participate in an AO-K career pathway program and industry examinations.
Kansas Legislative Research Department 2 2023 Summary of Legislation The bill also provides for financial assistance for books, tools, personal materials, and
industry examinations. The financial assistance provided is the aggregate amount of the cost of
books, tools, personal materials, and industry examinations for the AO-K career pathway
program in which the student is enrolled and receiving assistance, minus the aggregate amount
of all other aid awarded to the student. The financial assistance is subject to appropriations, and
the amount of financial assistance provided for each student may not exceed $500.
High School Equivalency Credential
Under continuing law, the Kansas Board of Regents distributes incentive payments to
each community college and technical college for individuals who have received a General
Educational Development (GED) credential or who are pursuing a GED while enrolled in an
eligible career technical education program.
The bill requires the Kansas Board of Regents to also distribute incentive payments to
community colleges and technical colleges for individuals who have received an HSE credential
or who are pursuing an HSE credential while enrolled in an eligible career technical education
program.
[Note: According to the Kansas Board of Regents, a GED credential is issued after the
successful completion of the GED examination, a four-subject high school equivalency test. A
HSE credential is issued after successful completion of the Kansas Pathway to Career High
School Equivalency program, which allows a student who is at least 21 years old to work toward
their high school completion as well as obtain a college certificate or credential.]
Kansas Legislative Research Department 3 2023 Summary of Legislation