The Florida Senate

1009.68  Florida Minority Medical Education Program.--

(1)  There is created a Florida Minority Medical Education Program to be administered by the Department of Education in accordance with rules established by the State Board of Education. The program shall provide scholarships to enable minority students to pursue a medical education at the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, Florida State University, the University of Miami, or Southeastern University of the Health Sciences, for the purpose of addressing the primary health care needs of underserved groups.

(2)  In order to be eligible to receive a scholarship pursuant to this section, an applicant shall:

(a)  Be a racial or ethnic minority student.

(b)  Be a citizen of the United States and meet the general eligibility requirements as provided in s. 1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(c)  Have maintained residency in this state for no less than 1 year preceding the award.

(d)  Be accepted by, and enroll as a full-time student in, a Florida medical school.

(e)  Have an undergraduate grade point average established by rule.

(f)  Have received scores on selected examinations established by rule.

(g)  Meet financial need requirements established by rule.

(h)  Agree to serve in a medical corps for a period of not less than 2 years for the purpose of providing health care to underserved individuals in the State of Florida.

(3)  In order to renew a scholarship awarded pursuant to this section, a student shall maintain full-time student status and a cumulative grade point average established by rule.

(4)  The number of scholarships annually awarded shall be three per school. Priority in the distribution of scholarships shall be given to students with the lowest total family resources.

(5)  Funds appropriated by the Legislature for the program shall be deposited in the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund. Interest income accruing to the program from funds of the program in the trust fund not allocated shall increase the funds available for scholarships. Any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year that has been allocated to the program shall remain in the trust fund and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of this section.

(6)  A scholarship recipient who, upon graduation, defaults on the commitment to serve in the medical corps for the full 2 years shall be required to repay all scholarship money plus interest.

(7)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

History.--s. 451, ch. 2002-387.