The department shall do all of the following:
(a) Provide technical and staff support to the programs in meeting all of its responsibilities.
(b) Provide financial management for the Health Professions Education Fund.
(c) Enter into contractual agreements with students from underrepresented groups for the disbursement of scholarships or loans in return for the commitment of these students to practice their profession in an area in California designated as deficient in primary care services.
(d) Disseminate information regarding the areas in the state that are deficient in primary care services to potential applicants for the scholarships or loans.
(e) Monitor the practice locations of the recipients of the scholarships or loans.
(f) Recover funds, in accordance with the terms of the contractual agreements, from recipients of scholarships or loans who fail to begin or complete their obligated service. Funds so recovered shall be redeposited in the Health Professions Education Fund.
(g) Contract with the institutions that train family practice residents, in order to increase the participation of students from underrepresented groups in entering the specialty of family practice. The director may seek the recommendations of the council as to what programs best demonstrate the ability to meet this objective.
(h) Contract with training institutions that are involved in osteopathic postgraduate training in general or family practice medicine, in order to increase the participation of students from underrepresented groups participating in the practice of osteopathic medicine. The director may seek the recommendations of the council as to what programs have demonstrated the ability to meet this objective.
(i) Enter into contractual agreements with graduated health professionals to repay some or all of the debts they incurred in health professional schools in return for practicing their professions in an area in California designated as deficient in primary care services.
(j) Contract with institutions that award baccalaureate of science degrees in nursing in order to increase the participation of students from underrepresented groups in the nursing profession. The director may seek the recommendations of the council as to what programs have demonstrated the ability to meet this objective.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 143, Sec. 167. (AB 133) Effective July 27, 2021.)