UT Code § 26-46-102 (2021)
2021 Utah Code|Title 26 - Utah Health Code|Chapter 46 - Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program|Section 102 - Creation of program -- Duties of department.

 Affected by 63I-2-226 on 7/1/2027  Effective 5/12/2020  26-46-102. Creation of program -- Duties of department.    (1) There is created within the department the Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program to provide, within funding appropriated by the Legislature for the following purposes:   (a) professional education scholarships and loan repayment assistance to health care professionals who locate or continue to practice in underserved areas; and     (b) loan repayment assistance to geriatric professionals who locate or continue to practice in underserved areas.       (2) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the department shall make rules governing the administration of the program, including rules that address:   (a) application procedures;     (b) eligibility criteria;     (c) selection criteria;     (d) service conditions, which at a minimum shall include professional service in an underserved area for a minimum period of time by any person receiving a scholarship or loan repayment assistance;     (e) penalties for failure to comply with service conditions or other terms of a scholarship or loan repayment contract;     (f) criteria for modifying or waiving service conditions or penalties in case of extreme hardship or other good cause; and     (g) administration of contracts entered into before the effective date of this act, between the department and scholarship or loan repayment recipients, as authorized by law.       (3) The department may provide education loan repayment assistance to an eligible professional if the eligible professional:   (a) agrees to practice in an underserved area for the duration of the eligible professional's participation in the program; and     (b) submits a written commitment from the health care facility employing the eligible professional that the health care facility will provide education loan repayment assistance to the eligible professional in an amount equal to 20% of the total award amount provided to the eligible professional.       (4) The department shall seek and consider the recommendations of the Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program Advisory Committee created under Section 26-46-103 as it develops and modifies rules to administer the program.     (5) Funding for the program:   (a) shall be a line item within the appropriations act;     (b) shall be nonlapsing unless designated otherwise by the Legislature; and     (c) may be used to cover administrative costs of the program, including reimbursement expenses of the Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program Advisory Committee created under Section 26-46-103.       (6) Refunds for loan repayment assistance, penalties for breach of contract, and other payments to the program are dedicated credits to the program.     (7) The department shall prepare an annual report on the revenues, expenditures, and outcomes of the program.    Amended by Chapter 56, 2020 General Session