2021 -- H 5540

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LC001247

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

PROGRAM

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Tobon, Baginski, Alzate, Edwards, Barros, Amore, and
Craven

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2021

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by

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adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 70.1

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

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     16-70.1-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Medical Professional Scholarship

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Program."

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     16-70.1-2. Program for the support of the medical professional scholarship

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established.

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     The council on postsecondary education in consultation with the director of the department

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of health, or designee, is empowered to establish and provide as part of the operation of the office

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of the postsecondary commissioner methods and procedures for the state's support of the medical

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professional scholarship program fund and provide financial and technical assistance as needed.

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     16-70.1-3. Powers.

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     The council on postsecondary education in consultation with the director of the department

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of health or the director's designee is authorized and empowered:

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     (1) To adopt rules and regulations designed to implement the provisions of this chapter;

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     (2) To adopt selection criteria, consistent with this chapter;

 

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     (3) To select annually the best and brightest scholars seeking to work in the medical field;

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     (4) To provide, through the office of the postsecondary commissioner, the authority to

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designate the medical professional scholarship program, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

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registered with the Rhode Island secretary of state, as the entity that will administer and operate all

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program services and manage scholarship resources;

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     (5) To supervise the disbursement of the scholarship fund;

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     (6) To work in cooperation with the Rhode Island higher education assistance authority

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which is directed to provide the committee with staff assistance necessary to carry out the purposes

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of this chapter; and

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     (7) To receive donations and grants from sources including, but not limited to, the federal

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government, governmental and private foundations, and corporate and individual donors; with

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these donations and grants to be deposited in the scholarship fund.

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      16-70.1-4. Eligibility for scholarship.

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     To be considered for the scholarship, all applicants must:

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     (1) Be a graduating senior at a public, parochial, or private high school in Rhode Island;

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     (2) Be accepted for admission at an accredited college or university in the United States or

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Canada;

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     (3) Achieve one or more of the following distinctions:

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     (i) Be in the top ten percent (10%) of the applicant's graduating class as of the end of the

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second quarter of the senior year;

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     (ii) Have a score in the ninetieth percentile or above on either the mathematics or verbal

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section of the scholastic aptitude test (S.A.T.); or

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     (iii) Have a combined mathematics and verbal S.A.T. score in the eighty-fifth percentile or

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above; and

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     (4) Have completed twenty (20) hours of community service at an accredited or licensed

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community based health center.

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     16-70.1-5. Award of scholarship - Conditions.

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     At any time that sufficient funds become available, the commissioner shall award

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scholarships in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each of the four (4) years of college

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attendance to each of the eligible applicants which the commissioner deems to be most qualified

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for the scholarship; provided, that to maintain entitlement to the scholarship each recipient must:

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     (1) Be enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college or university in the United

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States or Canada;

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     (2) Pursue a course of study leading to a degree or certification in the medical field; and

 

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     (3) Maintain satisfactory progress as determined by the college or university attended by

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the recipient.

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     16-70.1-6. Funding.

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     (a) The fund shall be financed by the assessment of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) added to

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the fee of all medical professionals upon filing an application for licensure with the state pursuant

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to the provisions of title 5.

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     (b) The monies received by the fund shall be deposited in a restricted receipt account

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administered by the commissioner of postsecondary education.

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     (c) No scholarship may be awarded until the fund reaches the sum of one hundred thousand

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dollars ($100,000).

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     (d) Upon reaching the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the commissioner

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may utilize only fifty percent (50%) of the money in the award of scholarships with the remainder

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of the money to be invested in an interest bearing account.

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     16-70.1-7. Disbursement of scholarship funds.

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     (a) The state controller is authorized and directed to draw orders upon the general treasurer

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for the payment of the funds deposited into the restricted receipt account upon receipt of the proper

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voucher provided by the office of the postsecondary commissioner.

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     (b) The office of the postsecondary commissioner shall present the voucher to the state

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controller no later than the last day of the first month of the fiscal year for which the scholarship is

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awarded and this amount shall be remitted to the account of the council on postsecondary education

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by the state treasurer no later than the last day of the second month of that fiscal year.

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     16-70.1-8. Audit requirements.

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     The medical professional scholarship program, by and through the office of the

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postsecondary commissioner, shall submit an annual audit to be completed by the employment of

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private auditors. Audit work papers of the private auditors shall be made available upon request to

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the auditor general and/or the director of administration for their review, at the completion of the

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audit. The audit report shall be furnished to the auditor general and the director of administration.

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     16-70.1-9. Severability.

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     If any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation made under this chapter, or its

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application to any person or circumstance, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the

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remainder of the chapter, rule or regulation and the application of the provision to other persons or

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circumstances shall not be affected by its invalidity. The invalidity of any section or sections or

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parts of any section or sections of this chapter shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this

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chapter.

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

PROGRAM

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     This act would establish the medical professional scholarship program within the council

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on postsecondary education and empower the commissioner of postsecondary education to award

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five thousand dollar ($5,000) scholarships for each of the four (4) years of college attendance to

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each eligible applicant selected by the commissioner. The program would be funded by a twenty-

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five dollar ($25.00) assessment on the fee of all medical professionals seeking licensure by the

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state.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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