ยง 924. Primary care service corps practitioner loan repayment program.
1. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this section, sections one
hundred twelve and one hundred sixty-three of the state finance law, or
any other contrary provision of law, the commissioner is authorized,
within amounts available therefor, to make loan repayment awards to
eligible primary care service corps practitioners who agree to practice
full-time in an underserved area in New York state, in amounts to be
determined by the commissioner, but not to exceed thirty-two thousand
dollars per year for any year in which such practitioners provide
full-time eligible obligated service, without competitive bid or request
for proposal process.
2. Loan repayment awards made to a primary care service corps
practitioner pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall not
exceed the total qualifying outstanding debt of the practitioner from
student loans to cover tuition and other related educational expenses,
made by or guaranteed by the federal or state government, or made by a
lending or educational institution approved under title IV of the
federal higher education act. Loan repayment awards shall be used solely
to repay such outstanding debt.
3. In the event that any commitment pursuant to the agreement
referenced in subdivision one of this section is not fulfilled, the
recipient shall be responsible for repayment in amounts which shall be
calculated in accordance with the formula set forth in subdivision (b)
of section two hundred fifty-four-o of title forty-two of the United
States Code, as amended.
4. The commissioner is authorized to apply any funds available for
purposes of subdivision one of this section for use as matching funds
for any available federal grants for the purpose of assisting states in
operating loan repayment programs.
5. The commissioner may postpone, change or waive the service
obligation and repayments amounts set forth in subdivisions one and
three of this section, respectively, in individual circumstances where
there is compelling need or hardship.
6. In order to be eligible to receive a loan repayment award under
this section, a primary care service corps practitioner must meet site
and service eligibility criteria as determined by the commissioner.
7. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations necessary to
effectuate the provisions and purposes of this article.