An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2776 By: Pfeiffer of the House
and
Montgomery and Pederson of
the Senate
An Act relating to health care workforce development;
creating the Health Care Workforce Development and
Finance Act of 2022; creating the Health Care
Workforce Development Revolving Fund; establishing
nature of fund; establ ishing funding sources;
authorizing fund utilization for certain purposes;
declaring funds appropriated; limiting budgeting and
expenditure authority; requiring certain budgeting
and expenditure procedure s; requiring budgeting and
expenditure of funds by certain dates; amending 63
O.S. 2021, Sections 1-2721, 1-2722, and 1-2723, which
relate to the Oklahoma Medical Loa n Repayment
Program; renaming certain agency of the state;
amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section s 625.1, 625.2, 625.3,
625.4, 625.4a, 625.9, 625.10a, 625.11, 625.13, and
625.14, which relate to the Oklahoma Rural Medical
Education Loan and Scholarship Fun d; renaming certain
agency of the state; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Sections
697.1, 697.2, 697.3, 697.5, 697.6, 697.7, 697.8,
697.9, 697.10, 697.11, 697.12, 697.15, 697.16,
697.17, 697.18, 697.19, 697.20, 697.21, and 697.21a,
which relate to the P hysician Manpower Training
Commission; renaming certain agency of the state;
expanding board membership ; establishing eligibility
requirements for certain appointments; placing
certain positions in the unclas sified service after
certain date under certain condition ; providing for
noncodification; and providing for codification .
ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 2
SUBJECT: Health care workforce development
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Health Care
Workforce Development and Finance Act of 2022 ".
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 697.21b of Title 70, unless
there is created a d uplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury until July 1,
2027, a revolving fund for the Health Care Workforce Training
Commission to be designated the "Health Care Workforce Development
Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject
to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all available
monies:
1. Received by the state as Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal
Recovery Funds pursuant to Section 9901 of the American R escue Plan
Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 117-2;
2. Directed to the state by the federal government for the
purpose of recruiting, educating, and stabilizing Oklahoma's health
care workforce;
3. Derived as interest and income from deposits and investments
of fund assets; and
4. Designated for deposit by law.
B. 1. All monies accruing to the credit of said fund are
hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Health
Care Workforce Training Commission for authorized purpose s as
provided in paragraph 2 of this subsection. Expenditures from said
fund shall be made upon w arrants issued by the State Treasurer
against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director o f the
Office of Management and Enterprise Serv ices for approval and
payment.
ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 3
2. All monies accruing to the credit of said fund shall be
utilized for the purpose of recruiting, educating, and stabilizing
Oklahoma's health care workforce, including the cost s and expenses
of operating such programs.
3. All monies accruing to the credit of the f und shall be
budgeted or encumbered no later than December 31, 2024, and shall be
expended no later than December 31, 2026.
4. All monies accruing to the credit of th e fund shall be
budgeted, expended, and transferred in strict accordance with
applicable state and federal law and guidance providing for and
limiting the utilization of such funds.
SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -2721, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1-2721. A. 1. The Physician Manpower Health Care
Workforce Training Commission sha ll administer the Oklahoma Medical
Loan Repayment Program.
2. For the purposes of this section, "primary care physicians"
shall mean physicians practicing in family medicine, geriatrics,
general internal medicine, general pediatrics,
obstetrics/gynecology , or emergency medicine.
3. For the purposes of this section, "health center" shall mean
a federally qualified health center as defined by 42 U.S.C., Section
1905(1)(2)(B).
4. For the purposes of this se ction, "teaching health center"
shall mean a health center that supports the residencies of primary
care physicians within the operations of the health center.
5. The Program, depending upon and limited to available
funding, shall provide educational loan repayment assistance to
Oklahoma licensed primary care physicians and physician assistants
who agree to establish a practice in a community located in Oklahoma
approved by the Commission.
6. Each award shall be for a contracted period and shall be
distributed to the participant by drafts made payable to the
participant at the end of each contract year with disbursements not
to exceed an amount to be established annually by the Co mmission.
Prior to any disbursement, the Commission shall certify and proper ly ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 4
review reports submitted by the participating ph ysician or physician
assistant detailing performance of activities in accordance with the
Program.
7. The Commission shall revi ew the performance in the Program
of the participating physician or physician assistant and determine
whether an award may be gr anted for additional years pursuant to
rules promulgated by the Commission.
B. The physicians and physician assistants entering the Program
each year shall agree to provide medical care and services in ar eas
designated by the Commission to provide medical care and services to
Medicaid recipients as authorized by the Oklahoma Health Care
Authority.
C. A physician or physician assi stant shall be eligible to
participate in the loan repayment program if the i ndividual:
1. Is a physician that holds a current Oklahoma medical
license;
2. Is a new primary care graduate physician or physician
assistant. Preference will be given to grad uates of the primary
care residency programs affiliated with the Oklahoma St ate
University College of Osteopathic Medicine, the University of
Oklahoma College of Medicine and the teaching hospitals affiliated
with both schools of medicine and teaching heal th centers located in
this state; or
3. Is a current practicing physician or physician assistant and
has met criteria establish ed by the Commission.
D. The Commission may accept donations of public or private
funds to assist in funding the Medical Loan R epayment Program. The
Commission may, at its discretion, contract with ot her public
entities and nonprofit corporations for the endowment, management
and administration of such funds.
E. The Commission shall present a report on the operation of
the Program to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate within
one (1) month of the beginning of each regular session of the
Legislature, including but not limited to the progress made in
accomplishing the goal of the Program.
ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 5
SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1-2722, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1-2722. The amount of the award of educational loan
repayment assistance shall not exceed any maximum or minimum a mount
as promulgated by rules of the Physician Manpower Health Care
Workforce Training Commission pursuant to the Oklahoma Medical Loan
Repayment Program. The actual amount of the award shall be based
upon a determination of:
1. Actual funds available to the Program for expendit ure; and
2. The existing student loan indeb tedness of the participating
physician.
SECTION 5. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -2723, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1-2723. A. The Physician Manpower Health Care
Workforce Training Commission shall have the option of utilizing
available funding in excess of the amount nec essary to fund the
Oklahoma Medical Loan Repayment Progra m described in Section 1 -2721
of this title to fund new or expanded pri mary care residency
programs in rural and underserved areas of the state. Such new or
expanded primary care residency program f unding shall include but
not be limited to:
1. Payments to hospitals or teaching health centers desiring to
establish new primary care residency program s. Such payments shall
be made to cover the costs of salaries, benefits and educational
costs of residents in training at the facility; or
2. Payments to hosp itals or teaching health center s with
existing primary residency progra ms desiring to expand the number of
residents participating in those programs. Such payments shall be
made to cover the costs o f salaries, benefits and educational costs
of residents in training at the facility .
B. Provisions of this section shall be sub ject to the
promulgated rules of the Commission.
SECTION 6. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 625.1, is
amended to read as follows:
ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 6
Section 625.1 There is hereby established t he Oklahoma Rural
Medical Education Loan and Scholarshi p Fund. The fund shall b e
administered by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission under the provisions of Section 625.9 of this
title.
SECTION 7. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 625.2, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 625.2 The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission shall be authorized and empowered t o grant
scholarships to qualifi ed students who are bona fide residents of
the State of Oklahoma and who would not otherwise have funds
necessary to finance the cost of a program of study leading to the
Degree of Doctor of Medicine, or to the Degree of Doct or of
Osteopathic Medicine, to be granted by an accredited and recognized
college of medicine or college of osteopathic medicine .
SECTION 8. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 625.3, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 625.3 A. The terms and conditions governing the
scholarships shall be as prescribed and formulated by the Physician
Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission, but shall
include the condition that each recipient, upon completion of his
the recipient's course of study, shall repay his such scholarship by
practicing his the recipient's profession in a rural community in
Oklahoma having a population of seven thousand five hundred (7,500)
persons or less according to the last preceding United States
Decennial Census and having a ne ed therefor, as determined by the
Commission, for one (1) year for each one (1) year the scholarship
is financed; provided, however, that the recipient will be given no
credit for payment and reduction of the obligation by serving in the
defined rural communities for a period less than two (2) years.
B. The maximum rural population criteria specified in
subsection A of this section ma y be waived by the Commission.
C. The terms of this subsection shall apply to recipients who
accept assistance on or after July 1, 1993. The contract shall
provide that in the event th e recipient breaches the terms of the
contract by not serving the desi gnated community for the specified
period of time, the Commission shall be entitled to recover an
amount equal to three time s the principal disbursed, pursuant to the
contract, plus interest. Interest on all amounts paid to or on ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 7
behalf of the participant shall be computed at the current prime
rate plus one percent (1%) with the interest to accrue from the date
each payment is made, pursuant to the contract. The amount the
Commission is entitled to recover shall be paid within nin ety (90)
days of the date the recipient becomes liable as determined by the
Commission.
SECTION 9. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6 25.4, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 625.4 The Commission shall promulgate and adopt suc h
rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this act. The Commission shall prescribe the fo rm and
regulate the submission of applicat ions for scholarship; conduct
conferences and interviews with applicants; determine the
eligibility of applicants; allow or disallow all applications for
scholarships or renewal of scholarships; contract, increase,
decrease, terminate and otherwise regulat e all grants for
scholarships and their repayment in cash or services; and manage,
operate and control all funds and property appropriated or otherwise
contributed for this purpose. The Commission may acquire prop erty
or money by the acceptance of gifts, grants, bequests or devise, and
may contract with the federal government in order to secure the
benefit of any federal program consistent with the provisions of
this act. Monies received by the Commission in repay ment of
scholarships granted from appropri ated funds shall be deposited with
the State Treasurer who shall place the same to the cred it of the
Commission in depository funds to be known as the "Rural Medical
Education Scholarship Fund" and the "Community P hysician Education
Scholarship Fund" depen ding on the program in which the recipient
participated, under and subject exclusively to t he control of the
Commission for the purpose of fulfilling and accomplishing the
conditions and purposes of the Physician Manpower Health Care
Workforce Training Commission. All monies so collecte d and
deposited in the State Treasury as aforesaid shall co nstitute a
continuing fund, shall not be subject to fiscal limitations, and the
unexpended balance shall at all times be ava ilable for expenditures
for the purposes and in the manner and form provi ded by this act.
All funds and property, and income therefr om, received by the
Commission through the acceptance of gifts, grants, bequests or
devise shall be held by the Commission i n trust, and may be sold,
transferred, invested and reinvested by the Com mission in accordance
with the provisions of the Oklahoma T rust Act, and all such fu nds
and property, and income therefrom, shall be used by the Commission ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 8
in fulfilling and accomplis hing the conditions and purposes of the
Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission.
SECTION 10. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 625.4a, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 625.4a There is hereby created in the State Treasury a
revolving fund for the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission to be designated the " Physician Manpower Health
Care Workforce Training Commission Revolving Fund". The fund shall
be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations and
shall consist of all payments received by the Commission pursuant to
Sections 625.3 and 625.10a of this title. All monies accrui ng to
the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted
and expended by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission for any expenses incurred in the implementati on
of its duties. Expenditures from the fund shall be ma de upon
warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as
prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
SECTION 11. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6 25.9, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 625.9 The administration of the Oklahoma Rural Medical
Education Loan and Scholarship Fund is hereby transferred to the
Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission as
established by law. All the powers, duties, responsibilities, rules
and regulations and functions of the Board of Trustees of the
Oklahoma Rural Medical Education Sc holarship Fund are hereby
transferred to the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission and the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma Rural Medical
Education Scholarship Fund is hereby abolished and terminated.
SECTION 12. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 625.10a, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 625.10a The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to establish
and administer cost-sharing scholarships a nd loan fund programs
which shall provide for state assistance to and participation with
community physician education an d scholarship trust funds which are
selected and approved by the Commission. Said state assistance and
participation shall be on a stat e and community matching formula
basis for the funding of the educational costs, fees and charg es of ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 9
a selected and qualified student in good standing and who is duly
enrolled in an accredited college of medicine or college of
osteopathic medicine and purs uing a course of study leading to the
degree of Doctor of Medicine or to the degree of Doctor o f
Osteopathic Medicine. Said student shall be a bona fide resident of
the State of Oklahoma who desires and agrees to practice his
profession on completion of t he course of study and training
required for licensure and certification in the community provi ding
the initial funds to be matched by the state funds. Communities
shall deposit the initial trust funds with the Physician Manpower
Health Care Workforce Training Commission to be administered and
matched by the Commissio n for the education of selected and
qualified students t o serve and to practice in the communities with
trust funds so established for that purpose with the Commission.
The Commission shall aid a nd advise communities in the selection of
qualified students to participate in a given comm unity scholarship
program and the Commission shall approve the selection of a given
student for a particular community physician education scholarship
trust fund matching program. The Commission shall determine the
percentage share for the state in the sc holarship matching progra m
with a given community to educate a given and duly selected student
on the basis of the extent of need of the community and its
surrounding area for the services of a practicing physician, the
amount of the initial trust funds th e community has raised an d
deposited in the physician education scholarship trust fund that is
duly established and the matching funds schedule developed by the
Commission and based upon both the population of the community
determined by the latest Federal Decennial Census and the estimated
median family annual income level as determined on the basis of the
estimates of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The state
matching assistance and participation in a given scholarship trust
fund program shall not e xceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the
total amount calculated to be necessary to fund the costs of a
course of study for the degree of Doctor of Medicine or the de gree
of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine as determined annuall y by the
Commission. Repayment of the total amount of t he scholarship by the
student on completion of his the student's course of study and on
the establishment of his the student's practice in the community
shall be made to the state fund and to the community trust fund in
accordance with the percentage and t otal amounts contributed by the
state and by the community to th e matching scholarship trust fund
program and in accordance with the provisions of Section 625.5 of
this title and contract requirements of Section 625.6 of this tit le
which shall apply in all cases to students participating in said
community physician edu cation scholarship trust fund programs ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 10
administered by the Commission with the exception of the maximum
amount allowable in payment to the student which shall be bas ed on
an annual review of t he costs, fees and charges of the school of
medicine or school o f osteopathic medicine in which the student is
enrolled and participating which shall be made by the Com mission.
The procedures, terms and conditions governing the s cholarships
and how they are administered shall be as prescribed and formulated
by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission
but shall include the following:
1. Communities desiring to participate in a loan and
scholarship program sha ll select a student who meets the
requirements for participation and give notice to the Co mmission.
2. The Commission shall aid and advise communities in the
selection of qualified students to participate in a given community
loan and scholarship program.
3. The communities shall deposit with the Commission the
initial year scholarship funds provided by the community which funds
shall be a percentage of the total educational and associated cos ts
of the student in the course of study i n an accredited colle ge of
medicine or college of osteopathic medicine and which funds are to
be used in the education of the selected student.
4. The Commission shall review and approve the selection of a
given student and shall then match the initial co mmunity funds with
state funds from the Oklahoma Community Physician Education Loan and
Scholarship Program Fun d in the amount needed to meet the total cost
for educating the student for one (1) year as agreed by t he
Commission and the community in each pa rticular case.
5. The Commission shall determine the percentage share for the
state in the loan and scholarshi p program with a given community to
educate a selected student on the basis of:
a. the extent of need o f the community and its
surrounding area for the services of a practicing
physician;,
b. the amount of the initial trust funds the community
has raised and deposited with the Commission for the
education of a selected student ;, and
ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 11
c. the population of the community which shall be
determined on the basi s of the current estimates made
by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
6. The state matching assistance and p articipation by the
Commission in a given loan and scholarship program for a particular
student shall not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of th e total
amount calculated to be necessar y to fund one (1) year of study for
the degree of Doctor of Medicine or the degree of Doctor of
Osteopathic Medicine as determined annually by the Commission at the
school of medicine or osteopathic medicine in which the selected
student is enrolled.
7. Each scholarship recipient, upon completion of his the
recipient's course of study, shal l repay his the recipient's loan
and scholarship to the state and to the community and receive
forgiveness on repayment of the funds from the st ate and from the
community by practicing his or her profession in the community in
Oklahoma providing the initial funds at a minimum fo r one (1) year
for each Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) the community and the
state financed the scholarship program for the s tudent; provided,
however, that the recipient will be given no credit for payment,
repayment and reduction of said obligation to the community and the
state by serving the given community for a period less than two (2)
years or, when approved by the Commis sion in agreement with the
community and terms of the contracts involved, repayment may be made
in cash with interest at the rat e of twelve percent (12%) per annum,
said interest to accrue from the date each payment of funds pursuant
to the loan and schola rship program is made. In addition, should a
recipient who accepts financial assistance after July 1, 1977, elect
not to perform his obligated service in the sponsoring community,
the agreed upon sum denoted as liquidated da mages in the contract
shall be assessed the recipient. No interest shall accrue on the
principal during any one period of time that the recipient thereof
is required to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, or
during his internship or residency, if in a primary care area and
the required service, internship or residency does not exceed four
(4) years. Provided that no interest shall accrue for six (6)
months following each of the above exceptions.
Each student who applies to participate in a comm unity and
state matching loan and scholarship program shall enter into a
contract administered by the Commission on behalf of the state and a
given community which has provided the initial scholarship funds to
educate a selected student. The contract shal l be between the State ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 12
of Oklahoma and the selected student by which contract the student
agrees to return to the community which provided the initial loan
and scholarship funds and to practice his profession, on completion
of the course of study and train ing required for licensure and
certification, for the number of years for which the student
received assistance from the community and the state and in
accordance with the conditions specified in the contract agreed to
by the student and the given communit y which selected the student.
Any repayment of the total amount of the scholarship or any portion
thereof as provided in this act and in the contract between t he
state and the student shall be made to the state deposited into the
Community Matching Loan an d Scholarship Repayment Revolv ing Fund
hereby created in the State Treasury. The community portion of any
repayment monies deposited in said fund shall be wit hdrawn from the
revolving fund and returned to the community on request or, if the
community so chooses, said repayment monies shall be held available
in said fund for reallocation by the community and the state to the
Community Physician Education Loan an d Scholarship Program Fund to
educate another student selected by the community and approved by
the Commission. The form of th e contracts shall be prepared and
approved by the Attorney General. The Commission is hereby vested
with full and complete autho rity and power to sue in its own name
any applicant for any balance due the Commission for repaym ent of
the scholarship on any contract or for failure by the applicant to
fulfill the terms of his contract in any way. Said contracts shall
be signed by the Chairman Chair of the Commission and by the student
for and by a representative of the community which selected the
student. The Commission shall have authority to cancel the contract
it makes between the Commission and any recipient of a scholarship
upon cause deemed sufficient by the Commission.
SECTION 13. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021 , Section 625.11, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 625.11 There is hereby created and established the
Oklahoma Community Physician Education Scholarship Program Fund
which fund shall be administered by the Physician Manpower Health
Care Workforce Training Commission for the purposes of providing the
state matching funds assistance for scholarship programs with given
communities. The Commis sion shall be empowered to contract for
services with any state agencies, institutions or any public or
private corporation involved in and conducting programs in physician
manpower health care workforce placement in order that the
Commission may perform its functions in an eff icient and timely
fashion. ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 13
SECTION 14. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, S ection 625.13, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 625.13 A. There is hereby created the "Community Match
Rural Scholarship Incentive Program" which shall be conducted and
administered by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission. The purpose of this program is to provide for
the fair and necessary distribution of funds allocated to it by the
Legislature to provide monies to the following programs under the
Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission:
1. The Community Matching Intern/Resident Program;
2. The Oklahoma Rural Medical Education Loan Scholarship
Program;
3. The Family/General Practice Resident Rural Scholarship Loan
Program, created pursuant to this section; and
4. The Family/General Practice Resi dency Grant Program, created
pursuant to this section.
The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission
is hereby authorized to distribute such monies to the funds
specified in Sections 625.1, 625.4a and 697.18 of this title
necessary to fund the programs specified in this section.
B. The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission shall establish and administer a Family/General Practice
Resident Rural Scholarship Loan Program for the purpose of assisting
Oklahoma's rural communities by providing financial assistance
through a scholarship loan forgiveness program to residents enrolled
in an accredited Family Practice or General Practice residency
program. The Commission shall establish the eligibility standards,
the amount of the loan not to exceed One Thousand Dollars
($1,000.00) per month, the service obligation of the recipient of
the loan, and any penalties related to the breach of the service
contract or failure to repay such loan plus interest and penalty.
C. The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission shall establish and administer a Family/General Practice
Residency Grant Program for the purpose of assisting Oklahoma's
rural communities by providing financial assistance through a grant
program to residents enrolled in an accredited Family Practice or ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 14
General Practice residency program. The Commissi on shall establish
the eligibility standards, th e amount of the grant not to exceed
Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per year, up to three (3) years,
the program obligations of the recipient of the grant, and any
penalties related to the breach of the gra nt obligations or failure
to repay the grant plu s interest.
SECTION 15. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 625.14, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 625.14 The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission shall establish and administer cost -sharing
programs for internship and residency physician training. The
Commission shall provid e for state assistance by sh aring the cost on
a percentage basis, as may be prescribed by law or as determined by
the Commission, of the salary, fringe benefits, training and program
administration of the interns and residents as may be arranged by
contract for reimbursement with an accredited and approved hospital
and accredited clinical programs throughout the state in cooperation
with the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and the
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine at Tulsa. Such physici an
training institutions in the state shall serve as the administrative
agent for internship and residency programs which are located in
hospitals and clinical training programs throughout the state. Such
programs are affiliated with the institutions and are approved for
funding by the Commission. The Commission shall conduct the
planning, coordination and selection of the training programs to
assure the effective and efficient operation of these programs. Not
less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the subsidy for these
programs shall be used in the training of primary health care and
family practice physicians for the rural and medically underserved
areas of the state. Provided that such subsidy may be used for the
primary purpose of increasing the tot al number of residencies fun ded
by this state, wherever located within the state, during that period
in which residency programs are being established in rural areas;
provided further, that as the residency programs are established and
accredited in rural hospitals, residency positio ns in such programs
shall be first provided for by the Commission. The Commission shall
present a report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate within
one (1) month of the beginning of each regular legislative session
on the operation of the programs including the progress made in
accomplishing the goals of physician training as to type of
specialties and manpower workforce placement of the kind necessary
to provide adequate health care to the people throughout this state. ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 15
The subsidy to the participating hospital, clinical situation or
training institution per resident or intern shall not exceed any
maximum or minimum amount as may be prescribed by law or as
determined by the Commission. The actual amount of subsidy for
physician training program situations shall be based upon a
determination by the Commission of:
1. The type of primary care residency and internship programs
involved and being conducted;
2. The extent of reimbursement available thr ough third-party
payers and all other sources; and
3. The program and salary costs incurred in the given training
situation.
SECTION 16. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.1, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.1 The Legislature recognizes that there is a need
to upgrade the availability of health care services for people of
Oklahoma, and thus, there is a need to improve the balance of
physician manpower health care workforce distribution in the state
both by type of practice and by geographic location. Furthermore,
the Legislature recognizes the need to accommodate the increasing
number of graduates from the medical and osteopathic colleges of
Oklahoma by retaining their services as practicing physicians in the
state and by attracting graduates from schools outside the state.
Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to increase the
number of internship and residency programs o ffered for the training
of physicians throughout the state through the sha ring by the state
of the costs of such internships and residencies with hosp itals and
other clinical residency training establishments. These programs
shall be designed primarily to emphasize the training of primary
health care and family practice physici ans and to develop manpower
workforce programs to service directly the rural and nonmetropolitan
areas of the state.
SECTION 17. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.2, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.2 The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission is authorized to establish and administer cost-
sharing programs for internship and resid ency physician training.
The Commission shall provide for state assistance by sharing the ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 16
cost on a percentage basis, as may be prescribed by la w or as
determined by the Commission, of the salar y, fringe benefits,
training and program administration of th e interns and residents as
may be arranged by contract for reimbursement with an accredited and
approved hospital and accredited clinical program s throughout the
state in cooperation with the Okl ahoma State University College of
Osteopathic Medicine. Such physician training institutions in the
state shall serve as the administrative agent for internship and
residency programs which are located in hospitals and clinical
training programs throughou t the state. Such programs are
affiliated with the instituti ons and approved for funding by t he
Commission. The Commission shall conduct the planning, coordination
and selection of the training programs t o assure the effective and
efficient operation of these programs. Not less than seventy-five
percent (75%) of the subsidy for these programs sh all be used in the
training of primary health care and family/general practice
physicians for the rural and medi cally underserved areas of the
state. Provided that such subsidy may be used for the primary
purpose of increasing the total number of residenc ies funded by this
state, wherever located within the state, during that period in
which residency programs are being established in rural areas;
provided further, that as the residency programs are established and
accredited in rural hospitals, residency positions in such programs
shall be first provided for by the Commission. The Commission shall
present a report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate withi n
one (1) month of the beginning of each regular legislative session
on the operation of the programs including the progress made in
accomplishing the goals of physician training as to type of
specialties and manpower workforce placement of the kind necessary
to provide adequate health care to the people throughout this state.
The subsidy to the participating hospital, clinical situation or
training institution per resident or intern shall not ex ceed any
maximum or minimum amount as may be prescribed by law or as
determined by the Commission. The actual amount of subsidy for
physician training program situations shall be based upon a
determination by the Commission of:
1. The type of primary car e residency and internshi p programs
involved and being conducted;
2. The extent of reimbursement availa ble through third-party
payers and all other sources; and
ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 17
3. The program and salary costs incurred in th e given training
situation.
SECTION 18. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.3 , is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.3 The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission shall be composed of seven (7) nine (9) members
appointed by the Governor with the advi ce and consent of the Sen ate.
Upon the expiration of the term of one of the n onphysician members,
three members shall be practicing all opathic physicians, three shall
be practicing osteopathic physicians and one, two shall not be a
physician be registered nurses, and one shall be a member of the
general public. The membership shall be appointed from diverse
geographic areas of the state. No board member serving on November
1, 2001, shall be removed from the board to satisfy the requirements
of this section, but appointments to fill vacancies subsequent to
November 1, 2001, shall be subject to the requiremen ts of this
section. Three members Members of the Commission shall be appointe d
for one-year terms, two members shall be appointed for three-year
terms and two members shall be appointed for five-year terms, and at
the expiration of the initial terms, succeeding terms of office
shall be five (5) years in duration. There shall be al so twelve
additional nonvoting ex officio members of the Commission who shall
serve in an advisory capacity only and include the Dean of the
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine or designee, the Dean of
the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine - Tulsa or designee,
the Chair of the Department of Family Medicine of the University of
Oklahoma Health Sciences Center or designee, the Chair of the
Department of Family Practice of th e University of Oklahom a College
of Medicine - Tulsa or designee, the Chair of the Department of
General Practice of the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and
Surgery or designee, the President of the Oklaho ma Academy of Family
Physicians or designe e, the President of the Oklahoma State Medical
Association or designee , the President of the Okl ahoma State
Osteopathic Association or designee, the President of the Oklahoma
Hospital Association or designee, the S tate Commissioner of Health
or designee, the Provost of the Unive rsity of Oklahoma Health
Sciences Center or des ignee, and the Dean of the Oklahoma College of
Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery or designee. Members of the
Commission shall serve without sala ry, but may be reimbursed for
travel expenses in attending meetin gs and performing their duties
pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act, Section 500.1 et
seq. of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 18
SECTION 19. AMENDATORY 70 O. S. 2021, Section 697.5, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.5 The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission, i n order to perform its official function in
establishing and administe ring physician training programs, shall
have the following spec ific powers, duties and resp onsibilities:
1. To review all available data on physician manpower health
care workforce in Oklahoma in order to determine the current and
projected distribution of physicians by geographic location and by
type of practice, and, to accomplish this review, the Commission
shall obtain information from and work in conjunctio n with the State
Department of Health and all other agencies which gather data and
evaluate health manpower care workforce needs;
2. To review data and information on accredited physician
internship and residency programs currently operated by Oklahoma
hospitals and other approved clinical situations, in order to
ascertain the number and distribution by physician s pecialty
training and by geographic location of available internship and
residency positions and to evaluate the impact of internship and
residency placement on the establishment of practices by physicians
in that geographic area or similar areas within th e state where
their services are urgently needed;
3. To serve as an agent to advise hospitals, clinics, and
communities on setting up and planning internship and residency
programs which emphasize the provision of additional primary care
physicians to service the rural areas of Oklahoma with primary care
specialties to be defined to incl ude training in the area of
internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, emergency
trauma, and family practice;
4. To provide general counsel and advice in th e development,
operation and evaluation of physician internship and residency
programs throughout the State of Oklahoma in cooperation with the
efforts of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the
state's physician training institutions such as the Oklahoma
University College of Medicine, Oklahoma City and Tulsa campuses,
and the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, and
subject to accreditation by official and appropriate accrediting
agencies;
ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 19
5. To develop the criteria for d etermining the physician
training cost component or associated clinical and hospital training
costs which are or may be nonreimbursable by third party payers in
programs proposed by accredited hospitals, clinical situations, or
hospital and clinical progra ms affiliated with and administered by
the College of Medicine, College of Medicine - Tulsa or College of
Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in order to determine the share for
the state in supporting the salary, benefits, training and program
administration costs incurred by hospitals in supporting of the
interns and residents;
6. To develop the criteria and procedure by which state
matching funds will be awarded to hospitals, accredited clinical
situations, in cooperation with the University of Oklahoma Co llege
of Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine - Tulsa, and
the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery which shall
administer programs in hospital and clinical situations in the state
to be used to underwrite the salaries, bene fits and associated
training and administration costs provided for the physician int erns
and residents during their period of training in such a way as to
create an incentive for the development and establishment of
residency and internship positions by ho spitals, clinical
establishments or by affiliation agreement with the University of
Oklahoma College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of
Medicine - Tulsa and the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine
and Surgery by providing funds to cover an d to supplement the
nonreimbursable or additional costs incurred in hospitals for
training activities or for delivery of service in outreach and
ambulatory clinical situations which are outside but associated with
the hospitals and clinical establishments participating in the
program;
7. To review and to approve for inclusion in the prog rams
funded the applications for funds submitted by accredited hospitals
and clinical situations participating in physician training programs
in cooperation with the Univer sity of Oklahoma College of Medicine,
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine - Tulsa and the Oklahoma
College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery for the costs of
supplying residents and interns in programs which they administer by
affiliation agreemen ts with hospitals and clinical situations
throughout the state in which the interns and residents are
supervised and funded by the University of Oklahoma College of
Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine - Tulsa and the
Oklahoma College of Os teopathic Medicine and Surgery and the
hospitals and clinical establishments pay for the patient care ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 20
services rendered in their institutions by these residents and
interns during the period of training;
8. To determine the specific level of funding and t he
priorities used for granting state support to approved hospitals and
clinical situations, in cooperation with the University of Oklahoma
College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine -
Tulsa and the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medi cine and Surgery
for approved hospital physician training programs for interns and
residents and to recommend to the Governor and the Oklahoma
Legislature the total funds needed to carry out the purpose of this
program;
9. To employ a director and any sta ff personnel required to
administer the funding of approved physician training progr ams and
to contract with other state agencies and institutions to conduct
and to perform specified services, functions and aspects in
administering state funds on the speci fied cost-sharing basis
determined by the Commission or for developing programs and
community and institutional participation in these training
programs;
10. To ensure that hospitals or clinical situations that can
qualify in all sections of Oklahoma be u tilized, and to take all
steps necessary to assist such hospitals or clinics in obta ining
necessary recognition or status, or in meeting standards for
accreditation or affiliation so that they may participate in these
physician training programs;
11. To ensure that in programs administered and operated by the
University of Oklahoma Colle ge of Medicine, University of Oklahoma
College of Medicine - Tulsa and the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic
Medicine and Surgery in hospitals and clinical situations through out
the state that funds allocated to the colleges are paid by the
hospitals and clinical situations in which the patient care services
are rendered, the funds are expended for such purposes in funding
residents and interns in the physician training progra ms that the
colleges have established with the approved hospitals and clinical
situations which programs are designed to provide primary health
care services to the rural and medically underserved parts of the
state;
12. To conduct and to administer a pro gram of physician and
health manpower care workforce placement services throughout the
State of Oklahoma. Placement services sh all be made available to ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 21
communities, hospitals, health care facilities, physician and health
professional training institutions, health profess ional associations
and organizations, individual physicians, health professionals ,
students in physician and hea lth professional training institutions
and schools, and other interested parties in such a way so as to
further the purposes of improving the di stribution of physicians and
health professionals practicing or available for pra ctice in the
state and improving in the availability of health care services to
the people of the state. Said placement service shall include but
not be limited to assisting communities in matching with, contacting
and recruiting physicians and health pro fessionals to practice in
communities in the state. The Commission shall develop criteria and
procedures for the conduct and performance of placement services and
employ any staff, contract for services with any private agency,
nonprofit corporation or in stitution to facilitate the per formance
of placement services.
SECTION 20. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.6, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.6 Funds appropriated to carry out the provisions of
this act shall be al located so that no less than forty percent (40%)
of all participating residents and interns in each school year must
participate in a rural program outs ide the Oklahoma City and Tulsa
metropolitan areas. The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission, in accordance with p rimary care specialty
accreditation standards, shall promulgate and adopt rules
designating the time allo cation spent by the residents and interns
participating in this program outside the Oklahoma City and Tulsa
metropolitan areas.
SECTION 21. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.7, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.7 The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission is hereby authorized to enter into con tractual
arrangements with residency training programs at the Un iversity of
Oklahoma College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma-Tulsa Medical
College, or the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and
Surgery, in order to enhance available funding for t he training of
primary care residents and to pay the cost of the salary stipend and
expenses of the resident physician for the period of time spent in
the residency programs. Monies received by the Commission from the
participating residency training prog ram under the provisions of
this section shall be deposited to, and disbursed from, the ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 22
"Residency Revolving Fund" hereby created in the State Treasury.
The fund shall be a continuing fund not subject to legislative
appropriation or fiscal year limitation s. Expenditures from the
fund shall be made on warrants issued by the State Treasurer against
claims filed by the Commission with the Director of the Office o f
Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
SECTION 22. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.8, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.8 A community may enter into a contract with a
resident physician in training whereby the resident agrees to
establish a practice in the community upon the completion of his the
individual's residency. The Physician Manpower Health Care
Workforce Training Commission shall have the authority to receive
funds direct from that community for the purpose of paying the
resident involved to the ext ent of the contractual arrangements.
Monies received by the Commission under the provisions of this
section shall be deposited to, and disbursed from, the "Community
Residency Revolving Fund" hereby created in the State Treasury. The
fund shall be a cont inuing fund not subject to legislative
appropriation or fiscal year limitations. Expenditures from said
fund shall be made on warrants issued by the State Treasurer against
claims filed by the Commission with the Director of the Office of
Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
SECTION 23. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.9, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.9 There is hereby created and established the
Community Preceptor Physician Training and Work Experience
Scholarship Fund which fund shall be administered by the Physician
Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission for the purpose
of providing state matchin g funds assistance and encouraging the
development of a program whereby the state in conjunction with given
communities, hospital s or clinical training situations funds the
stipends and living expenses for medical students who agree to work
in these given communities during the vacation times during the
course of their education in the University of O klahoma College of
Medicine or the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and
Surgery. The Commission shall develop procedures for determining
the matching funds participation of communities and of the state for
a given student and coordinate with the p hysician training
institutions in the state for the selection of students to
participate in the program and the selection of physicians who will ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 23
supervise students and hospitals and clinical situations in which
the training and experience occurs in the del ivery of primary health
care to rural and medically underserved areas with the purpose of
providing medical and osteopathic students an opportunity to develop
relationships with communities and encourage them to locate their
practices in areas of medical n eed.
SECTION 24. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697. 10, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.10 A. The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission is authorized to e nter into contractual
arrangements with individual hospitals and clinic al programs for the
reimbursement of intern or resident salary cost not to exceed the
limits established by Section 697.2 of this title. Provided, that
residency and internship positio ns created prior to the spring
semester 1975 shall be eligible for part icipation in the cost -
sharing program for inter nship and residency training as established
by Sections 697.1 through 697.8 of this title, only if partial
funding of said positions will allow the creation of addition al
positions in whole or in part at the p articipating hospital or
clinical situation. T he participating hospital or clinical
situation shall document in a manner specified by the Commission the
extent to which funding of a pr eviously created and establish ed
position contributes directly to the c reation of additional
positions at the particip ating hospital or clinical situation.
B. The Commission is authorized, in cooperation with the
Oklahoma Health Care Authority, to enter i nto contractual
arrangements with the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and
the Oklahoma State University Col lege of Osteopathic Medicine for
the reimbursement of intern and resident professional liability
insurance cost which shall not be subject to the limits established
in Section 697.2 of this title. Any and all intern and resident
positions are eligible for reimbursement of intern and resident
professional liability insurance cost.
C. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission to be designated the "I ntern and Residents Professional
Liability Insurance Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not
subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies
received by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission for reimbursement of intern and residency professional
liability insurance costs. All monies accruing to the credit of the ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 24
fund are hereby appropriated and may be budge ted and expended by the
Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission for
such costs. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants
issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by
law with the Director of the Off ice of Management and Enterprise
Services for approval and payment.
SECTION 25. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.11, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.11 A. In addition to internship and residency
programs previously established and funded, it is t he intent of the
Legislature that the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Health Care
Authority, establish a Critical Need Internship and Residency
Program. The purpose of the Program is to fund in ternship and
residency programs acr oss the state in areas of critical need. The
determination of areas of critical need shall be made through a
cooperative effort between the University of Oklahoma College of
Medicine and the Oklahoma State University Col lege of Osteopathic
Medicine. The findings shall be reported to the Commission by July
1, 2006, and every three (3) years thereafter.
B. The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and the
Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine shal l
annually provide to the Commissio n a report outlining the areas of
physician shortages in each specialty area. The report shall be the
basis for the cooperative funding of critical need physician
specialties for the current fiscal year .
C. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission to be designated the "Critical Need Internship and
Residency Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject
to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received
by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission
for funding internship and r esidency programs in areas of critical
need. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby
appropriated and may be budgeted and expe nded by the Physician
Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission for such costs.
Expenditures from the fund shall be made upo n warrants issued by the
State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with th e
Director of the Office of Mana gement and Enterprise Services for
approval and payment. ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 25
SECTION 26. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.12, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.12 The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission shall est ablish and administer a cost -sharing
scholarship program for the provision of physician services at the
various correctional facilities under the Department of Corrections
and the surrounding or nearby communities. Except as otherwise
specified herein, th e scholarship program shall be administered
pursuant to the requirements prescribed by law for and as part of
the Oklahoma Community Educ ation Scholarship Program. Each
scholarship available hereunder shall be funded on a percentage
cost-sharing basis as follows: One-half (1/2) of the costs to be
provided by the Commission, one-fourth (1/4) of the costs to be
provided by the Department of Corrections and one-fourth (1/4) of
the costs to be provided by a community. Each physician, who has
participated in the scholarship program hereunder, shall devot e
one-half (1/2) of his or her professional time to medical care and
treatment of inmates at a state correctional facility and one -half
(1/2) of his or her professional time to medical servi ces in the
community which shared the cost of a scholarship hereun der, for the
period of time as required under the Oklahoma Community Education
Scholarship Program.
SECTION 27. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.15, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.15 In order for any hospital or clinic to be
eligible to receive funds through the Physician Manpower Health Care
Workforce Training Commission for residency or internship positions,
such hospital or clinic shall affirm that students receiving t heir
medical education in Oklahoma will be given special consideration
for all residency and internship positions.
SECTION 28. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.16, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.16 Effective July 1, 1982, all positions of the
Physician Manpower All future appointments of personnel to the
Health Care Workforce Training Commission except the Executive
Director who shall remain in the unclassified service, shall become
subject to the Merit System of Personnel Administration. All
incumbent employees shall be classified without the need to pass
examinations and shall be allocated in accordance with the ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 26
recommended classifications as p roposed by the Merit System be in
the unclassified service. Any clas sified employee occupying a
position on the Commission prior to July 1, 2022, shall retain the
right to remain in the classified service. However, at the time
such position becomes vacant, it shall be placed in the unclassified
service.
SECTION 29. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.17, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.17 A. There is hereby established the Nu rsing
Student Assistance Program which shall be administered by the
Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission. The
purpose of the program shall be to encourage persons to enter
nursing education programs and to practice in areas of this state in
which there is an urgent need for nursing services or in
institutions or agencies of this state which p rovide funds on a
matching basis with t he Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission for the support of nursing stude nts. The
Nursing Student Assistance Program shall be administered by rules
adopted by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission.
B. Only students who are residents of this state shall be
eligible to participate in the Nursing Student Assistan ce Program.
C. If a person receiving Nursing Student Assistance Program
funds fails to fully comply with the provisions of the contract for
the funds, the person shall refund to the Physician Manpower Health
Care Workforce Training Commission all monie s received by the person
pursuant to the provisions of the contract plus a one -time
liquidated damages assessment of five percent (5%) of the total
amount dispersed to the person in lieu of interest. The Commission
shall prorate the amount to be repaid in the event the obligation
was partially fulfilled.
D. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission to be designated the "Nursing Student Assistance Fund".
The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year
limitations, and shall consist of all nonappropriated monies,
including community match money of appropriated funds, grants,
gifts, and repayment of scholarships received by the Physician
Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission. All mon ies
accruing to the credit of the fu nd are hereby appropriated and ma y ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 27
be budgeted and expended by the Physician Manpower Health Care
Workforce Training Commission for such scholarshi ps as may be
provided for pursuant t o the Nursing Student Assistance Program.
Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warran ts issued by the
State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the
Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for
approval and payment.
SECTION 30. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Se ction 697.18, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.18 A community may enter into a contract with a
physician who is a graduate from an accredite d medical school
whereby such physician agrees to establish a practice in that
community. The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission shall have the authority to receive funds direct from
that community for the purpose of paying the ph ysician involved to
the extent of the contractual arrangement. Monies received by the
Commission under the provisions of this section s hall be deposited
to and disbursed from, the "Community Match Revolving Fund" hereby
created in the State Treasury. The fund shall be a continuing fund
not subject to legislative appropriation of fisca l year limitations.
Expenditures from said fund shall be made on warrants issued by the
State Treasurer against claims filed by the Commission with the
Director of the Offic e of Management and Enterprise Servi ces for
approval and payment.
SECTION 31. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.19, is
amended to read as fol lows:
Section 697.19 A. There is hereby established the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act Program (OBRA) which shall be administered
by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission.
The purpose of the program shall be to encourage persons to enter
nursing education programs and to practice in nursing homes of this
state in which there is an urgent need for nursing serv ices which
provide funds on a matchi ng basis with the Physician Manpower Health
Care Workforce Training Commission fo r the support of nursing
students. The OBRA Program shall be administered by rules under the
Oklahoma Nursing Student Assistance Program ad opted by the Physician
Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission.
B. Only students who are residents of t his state shall be
eligible to participate in the OBRA Program.
ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 28
C. If a person receiving OBRA Progra m funds fails to fully
comply with the provisions of the contract for said fu nds, the
person shall refund to the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission all monies receiv ed by the person pursuant to
the provisions of the contract plus interest at the rate o f twelve
percent (12%) from the date of disbursement of said funds and shall
be liable for any other l iquidated damages as specified in the
contract.
D. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission to be designated the "OBRA Fund". The fund shall be a
continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year li mitations, and shall
consist of all nonappropriated monies, including local nursing home
association match money of appropriated funds, grants, gi fts, and
repayment of scholarships r eceived by the Physician Manpower Health
Care Workforce Training Commission. All monies accruing to the
credit of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and
expended by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission for such scholarships as may be provided for pursua nt to
the OBRA Program. Expe nditures from said fund shall be made upon
warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as
prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
SECTION 32. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697. 20, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.20 A. There is hereby created the "Osteopathic
Internship and Residency Program" which shall be conducted and
administered by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission. The purpose of this program is to provide for
the fair and necessary distribution of funds allocated to it by the
Legislature to provide monies to the following programs under the
Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Program:
1. The Doctor of Osteopathy Residency Program (OSU/COM);
2. The Osteopathic General Practice Residency Program
(OSU/COM); and
3. The Osteopathic Internship Program (OSU/COM).
B. The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission is hereby authorized to distribute such monies to the ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 29
funds specified in Sections 697.2 and 697.6 of this title necessary
to fund the programs specified in this section.
SECTION 33. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.21, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.21 A. There is hereby established the Physician
Assistant Scholarship Program. The purpose of the program is to
encourage persons to enter physician assistant education programs
and to practice in rural and medic ally underserved areas of this
state. The Physician Assistant Scholarship Program shall be
administered by the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission pursuant to rules promulgated by the Commission
and shall be funded based on an annual estimate of need as
determined by the Comm ission. Awards made pursuant to this Program
shall be subject to the availabi lity of funds. The number of and
amount of each award shall be determined by the Commission based on
the availability of funds.
B. Only students who have been admitted as a stu dent in an
accredited physician assistant program shall be eligible to
participate in the Physician Assistant Scho larship Program.
C. If a person receiving Physician Assistant Scholarship
Program monies fails to fully comply with the provisions of the
contract for the monies, the person shall refund to the Physician
Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission a ll monies
received by the person pursuant to the provisions of the contrac t
plus interest at a rate that equals the prime interest rate plus one
percent (1%) from the date of disbursement of the funds and shall be
liable for any other liquidated damages as specified in the
contract.
D. There is hereby created in the State Treas ury a revolving
fund for the Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training
Commission to be designated the "Physician Assistant Scholarship
Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal
year limitations, and shall consist of all mo nies received by the
Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce Training Commission for
implementation of the Physician Assistant Scholarship Program. All
monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated
and may be budgeted and expended by the Physician Manpower Health
Care Workforce Training Commission fo r such scholarships as may be
provided for pursuant to the Physician Assistant Sch olarship
Program. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 30
issued by the State Treasurer aga inst claims filed as prescribed by
law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise
Services for approval and payment.
SECTION 34. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 697.21a, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 697.21a The Physician Manpower Health Care Workforce
Training Commission shall promulgate rules to enforce the provisions
of this act.
ENR. H. B. NO. 2776 Page 31
Passed the House of Representatives the 20th day of May, 2022.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 20th day of May, 2022.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________