### §1613. Health professions preparatory scholarship program for Indians

#### (a) Requirements

The Secretary, acting through the Service, shall make scholarship grants to Indians who—

(1) have successfully completed their high school education or high school equivalency; and

(2) have demonstrated the capability to successfully complete courses of study in the health professions.

#### (b) Purposes and duration of grants; preprofessional and pregraduate education

Scholarship grants made pursuant to this section shall be for the following purposes:

(1) Compensatory preprofessional education of any grantee, such scholarship not to exceed two years on a full-time basis (or the part-time equivalent thereof, as determined by the Secretary).

(2) Pregraduate education of any grantee leading to a baccalaureate degree in an approved course of study preparatory to a field of study in a health profession, such scholarship not to exceed 4 years (or the part-time equivalent thereof, as determined by the Secretary).

#### (c) Covered expenses

Scholarship grants made under this section may cover costs of tuition, books, transportation, board, and other necessary related expenses of a grantee while attending school.

#### (d) Basis for denial of assistance

The Secretary shall not deny scholarship assistance to an eligible applicant under this section solely on the basis of the applicant's scholastic achievement if such applicant has been admitted to, or maintained good standing at, an accredited institution.

#### (e) Eligibility for assistance under other Federal programs

The Secretary shall not deny scholarship assistance to an eligible applicant under this section solely by reason of such applicant's eligibility for assistance or benefits under any other Federal program.

(Pub. L. 94–437, title I, §103, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1403; Pub. L. 96–537, §3(b), Dec. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 3174; Pub. L. 100–713, title I, §102, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4785; Pub. L. 102–573, title I, §102(b), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4530.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

1992—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102–573, §102(b)(1), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "have demonstrated the capability to successfully complete courses of study in schools of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, or allied health professions."

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–573, §102(b)(2), inserted before period at end "on a full-time basis (or the part-time equivalent thereof, as determined by the Secretary)".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 102–573, §102(b)(3), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "Pregraduate education of any grantee leading to a baccalaureate degree in an approved premedicine, predentistry, preosteopathy, preveterinary medicine, preoptometry, or prepodiatry curriculum, such scholarship not to exceed four years."

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–573, §102(b)(4), struck out "full time" after "while attending school".

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–573, §102(b)(5), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section—

"(1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1989,

"(2) $3,700,000 for fiscal year 1990,

"(3) $4,400,000 for fiscal year 1991, and

"(4) $5,100,000 for fiscal year 1992."

1988—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–713, §102(b), inserted "of a grantee while attending school full time" after "expenses".

Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 100–713, §102(a), added subsecs. (d) and (e) and struck out former subsec. (d) which read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of this section: $800,000 for fiscal year 1978, $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1979, and $1,300,000 for fiscal year 1980. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,510,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1981, $4,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1982, $4,620,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1983, and $5,300,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1984."

1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–537, §3(b)(1), substituted provisions specifying in pars. (1) and (2), purposes for which scholarship grants could be made, for provisions that the scholarship grant shall be for a period not to exceed two academic years, which years shall be for compensatory preprofessional education of the grantee.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–537, §3(b)(2), substituted provisions authorizing appropriation of specific amounts for fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1981, Sept. 30, 1982, Sept. 30, 1983, and Sept. 30, 1984, for provisions authorizing appropriations of such amounts as may be specifically authorized by an act enacted after Sept. 30, 1976.