AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE MEDICAL PRIMARY CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (Establishes the medical primary care scholarship program to be administered by the commissioner of postsecondary education.)

S2101

2026 -- S 2101
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE MEDICAL PRIMARY CARE
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Introduced By:
Senators Lauria, DiMario, Murray, Valverde, Kallman, Ujifusa, Pearson,
Zurier, Urso, and Euer

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. The general assembly hereby makes the following findings of fact:
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(1) Primary care healthcare in the State of Rhode Island is in crisis.
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(2) There currently exists a national and regional shortage of primary care healthcare
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providers.
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(3) Many primary care healthcare providers are retiring early and many more are
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approaching retirement age.
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(4) Primary care healthcare is provided by physicians, nurse practitioners and physician
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assistants and the overall numbers of medical professionals entering the field of primary care
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healthcare is declining.
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(5) It is increasingly difficult for primary care practices to hire nurses, medical assistants,
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behavioral health clinicians and other key staff, which is leading to even higher burnout among
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primary care providers.
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(6) Fewer students are going into primary care as a profession due to lower salaries, high
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student loans and increasing administrative burden leading to provider burnout.
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(7) Our aging Rhode Island population requires more medical care.
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(8) As a state, we must recruit, train, retain and sustain the number of primary care
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providers sufficient to meet the population health needs of all Rhode Islanders.
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(9) Investments in primary care are essential for access to health services, improving the

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health of the population and reducing overall healthcare costs.
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SECTION 2. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 1.12
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THE MEDICAL PRIMARY CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
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23-1.12-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "The Medical Primary Care
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Scholarship Program".
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23-1.12-2. Establishment of scholarship program.

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There is hereby established the medical primary care scholarship program to be
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administered by the director of the department of health in consultation with the commissioner of
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post-secondary education. This program shall be aligned with the RIDOH office of primary care
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and rural health and leverage existing infrastructure with the loan repayment program.
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23-1.12-3. Definitions.

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When used in this chapter, the following words are construed as follows:
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(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of postsecondary education appointed
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pursuant to the provisions of § 16-59-6.
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(2) "Director" means the director of the department of health holding office pursuant to the
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provisions of §§ 42-6-9 and 42-6-10.
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(3) "Primary care" means healthcare services that cover a range of prevention, wellness
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and treatment for common illnesses and injuries. Primary care includes patients making an initial
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approach to a healthcare professional for treatment as well as long-term relationships established
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between a patient and a healthcare professional and may include family medicine or medical care,
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general internal medicine or medical care, and general medical practice.
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(4) "Scholarship program" means the medical primary care scholarship program
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established pursuant to § 23-1.12-2.
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23-1.12-4. Powers.

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The director, in consultation with the commissioner, is authorized and empowered:
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(1) To adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter if necessary;
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(2) To adopt selection criteria, consistent with the provisions of this chapter to include, but
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not be limited to:
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(i) Identification of exemplary scholars seeking to serve as a medical professional;
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(ii) Identification of scholars demonstrating a strong desire to establish and work in the
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primary care healthcare area;

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(iii) Identification of scholars who have a demonstrated connection to or desire to establish
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a long-term professional commitment to serving as a primary care provider in the State of Rhode
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Island; and
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(iv) Identification of scholars to match the diversity of Rhode Island's population;
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(3) To establish, if the director deems it advisable, a nonprofit organization registered with
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the secretary of state, as the entity to administer and operate all administrative program services to
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be operated under the direct supervision of the director;
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(4) To leverage loan repayment infrastructure to establish an application procedure for
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scholarship consideration and awarding of scholarships;
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(5) To supervise the disbursement of the scholarship fund; and
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(6) To perform all other acts necessary to carry out the intent, purpose and provisions of
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this chapter.
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23-1.12-5. Eligibility for medical school scholarship.

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To be eligible for medical school scholarship consideration, an applicant shall:
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(1) Complete the application procedure established by the director;
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(2) Be graduating or having graduated from an accredited college or university;
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(3) Have an established record of excellent academic standing;
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(4) Have been accepted for admission in a medical school in the United States; and
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(5) Comply with all requirements and conditions of the scholarship program and the
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provisions of this chapter.
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23-1.12-6. Eligibility for nurse practitioner or physician assistant scholarship.

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To be eligible for a scholarship for attendance at a nurse practitioner or physician assistant
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educational training institution or program, an applicant shall:
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(1) Complete the application procedure established by the director;
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(2) Have completed all educational requirements for admission to the nurse practitioner or
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physician assistant educational training program;
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(3) Have an established record of excellent academic standing;
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(4) Have been accepted for admission in a degree or educational training program located
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in the United States for nurse practitioners or physician assistants; and
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(5) Comply with all requirements and conditions of the program established pursuant to
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the provisions of this chapter.
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23-1.12-7. Award of scholarship - Conditions.

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(a) At any time that sufficient funds become available, the director may award up to five
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(5) new medical school scholarships per academic year, five (5) new nurse practitioner scholarships

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per academic year, and five (5) new physician assistant scholarships per academic year.
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(b) Any medical school scholarship awarded shall continue for a period of four (4) years
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and any nurse practitioner or physician assistant scholarship shall continue for a period of two (2)
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years; provided the recipient maintains good academic standing and continues to comply with all
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rules, regulations and conditions of the scholarship program.
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(c) The maximum award for a recipient of the medical school scholarship shall be seventy
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thousand dollars ($70,000) per academic year.
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(d) The maximum award for a recipient of the nurse practitioner or the physician assistant
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scholarship shall be forty seven thousand dollars ($47,000) per academic year.
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(e) All recipients for scholarship funds shall execute a contract agreeing to work in Rhode
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Island providing primary care healthcare services upon completion of their respective education,
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licensing and any applicable internship. In addition to the contract, each recipient shall sign a
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promissory note for all funds received from the scholarship program. The contract and promissory
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note shall be prepared by the commissioner in consultation with the attorney general.
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(f) Every contract shall be negotiated and approved pursuant to the provisions of § 42-11-
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11.
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23-1.12-8. Contract and promissory note.

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(a) Every recipient of scholarship funds pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall
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execute a contract negotiated and approved pursuant to § 42-11-11, and a promissory note prior to
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the receipt of any funds.
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(b) The contract shall require the recipient to:
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(1) Attend full-time the specified academic institution or educational program which shall
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qualify the recipient to provide primary care healthcare services;
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(2) Maintain academic good standing;
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(3) Graduate on time for a full-time student attending the academic institution or program;
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and
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(4) Agree upon graduation and licensing to provide two (2) years of full-time work or part-
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time work, defined as twenty-four (24) hours per week. The part-time work commitment would be
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prorated to the number of years required to fulfill the work obligation, providing primary care health
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services in Rhode Island for each year a scholarship award was received.
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(c) The contract shall provide that for every two (2) year period that the scholarship
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recipient following graduation, works full-time in Rhode Island providing primary care healthcare
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services, then the amount of the scholarship award received by the recipient for one academic year
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shall be forgiven and cancelled. If the recipient has received the maximum scholarship award over

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four (4) academic years then upon eight (8) years of working full-time, or the prorated equivalent
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for part time work, in Rhode Island providing primary care healthcare services then all scholarship
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funds received shall be forgiven and the promissory note cancelled.
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23-1.12-9. Repayment of funds.

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(a) Any recipient of scholarship funds who fails to comply with the rules or regulations
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promulgated pursuant to § 23-1.12-3, the provisions of this chapter or the terms of the contract for
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receipt of funds shall immediately pay and return all funds received to the director.
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(b) All scholarship funds shall be repaid to the director if:
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(1) The student fails to complete the educational program;
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(2) The student fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section; or
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(3) The student fails to work full-time or part-time providing primary care healthcare
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services in Rhode Island for any of the required contract period of time following graduation and
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licensing.
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(c) Partial scholarship funds shall be repaid to the director should the recipient partially
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fulfill the contract obligation but fails to work two (2) years providing full-time or part-time
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prorated equivalent primary care healthcare service in Rhode Island for every year scholarship
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funds were received. The reimbursement shall be pro-rated for qualified time working applied to
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the gross amount received by the recipient.
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(d) Interest shall accrue on all funds owed by the recipient pursuant to the provisions of §
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9-21-10.
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(e) The attorney general is authorized and empowered to bring proceedings to recover all
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amounts due under the provisions of this section.
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(f) All sums recovered pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be redeposited in the
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restricted receipt account to implement the scholarship program.
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23-1.12-10. Appropriations.

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(a) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, there is hereby appropriated, a transfer of
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the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) from the Wavemaker Fellowships Program
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established in chapter 64.26 of title 42, and out of money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated,
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the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for a total of one million dollars ($1,000,000)
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per year deposited into a restricted receipt account to implement the scholarship program
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established in § 23-1.12-2; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw to the
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controller's orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may
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be from time to time required, upon the receipt by the general treasurer of properly authenticated
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vouchers submitted by the commissioner on an annual basis over a minimum period of four (4)

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years. A portion of the funding may be used for one full-time employee to administer the
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scholarship program.
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(b) For fiscal year 2027-2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the general assembly shall
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annually appropriate a sum as it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, and
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the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw the controller's orders upon the general
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treasurer for the payment of the sum or sums or so much thereof as may be required from time to
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time to be deposited in a restricted receipt account upon receipt by the general treasurer of properly
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authenticated vouchers submitted by the commissioner.
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23-1.12-11. Audits.

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(a) The commissioner shall submit annually all financial records and receipts of
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disbursements to the auditor general and the director of administration.
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(b) The auditor general and the director of administration are authorized to review and audit
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all records, receipts, disbursements and transactions concerning the scholarship program and the
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funds associated with the scholarship program.
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23-1.12-12. Reports.

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Commencing December 31, 2027, and every December 31 thereafter, the commissioner
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shall report annually to the general assembly and the governor on the status and progress of the
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scholarship program established and administered pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
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23-1.12-13. Severability.
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If any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the
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provisions of this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstance, is held invalid by a court
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of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the chapter, rule or regulation and the application of the
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provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by its invalidity. The invalidity of
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any section or sections or portion of any section or sections of this chapter shall not affect the
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validity of the remainder of this chapter.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE MEDICAL PRIMARY CARE
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
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This act would establish the medical primary care scholarship program to be administered
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by the commissioner of postsecondary education. This act would appropriate one million dollars
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($1,000,000) for fiscal year 2026-2027 which would be utilized to provide scholarships for four (4)
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years for doctors, and for two (2) years for physician assistants and nurse practitioners to provide
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primary care services in Rhode Island. For every year a medical practitioner received a scholarship,
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the recipient would be required to provide two (2) years of work in the field of primary care in the
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state upon graduation.
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This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.
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