Bill Text: MS HB1261 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: State Medical Forgivable Loan Program for Minority Physicians; create.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2023-01-31 - Died In Committee [HB1261 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2023-HB1261-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Blackmon
House Bill 1261
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 37-106-61.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE STATE MEDICAL FORGIVABLE LOAN PROGRAM FOR MINORITY PHYSICIANS TO ENABLE ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO OBTAIN MEDICAL EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOARD; TO PROVIDE THAT LOAN RECIPIENTS MAY ELECT TO REPAY THEIR LOANS BY PRACTICING MEDICINE IN MISSISSIPPI IN A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA OR MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREA OUTSIDE OF A METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 37-106-61.1, Mississippi Code of 1972:
37-106-61.1. (1) There is created the State Medical Forgivable Loan Program for Minority Physicians. The purpose of such program shall be to enable eligible applicants who desire to become physicians to obtain medical education at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine that will qualify them to become licensed, practicing physicians and surgeons.
(2) Eligible applicants for awards under the program are residents of Mississippi who have origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
(3) The board shall establish, by rule and regulation, the maximum annual award which may be made under this program at an amount not to exceed the cost of tuition and other expenses, and shall establish the maximum number of awards that may be made, not to exceed the length of time required to complete the degree requirements and internship or residency.
(4) Repayment and conversion terms shall be the same as those outlined in Section 37-106-53 and shall include the following:
(a) Payment in full of principal and interest must be made in sixty (60) or less equal monthly installments; or
(b) In lieu of payment in full of both principal and interest, a loan recipient may elect to repay the loan by entry into the practice of medicine in Mississippi in a health professional shortage area (HPSA) or medically underserved area (MUA) outside of a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) for a period of five (5) years.
(5) The board shall establish the rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.
