January 18, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Dallman, Cabral-Guevara,
Edming, Gundrum, Novak, Oldenburg and Zimmerman, cosponsored by
Senators Stafsholt and Felzkowski. Referred to Committee on Colleges and
Universities.

AB869,1,5 1An Act to create 20.235 (1) (fr), 39.387 and 71.05 (6) (b) 58. of the statutes;
2relating to: creating a rural pharmacy practice grant program administered
3by the Higher Educational Aids Board, exempting from taxation amounts
4received from such a grant program, granting rule-making authority, and
5making an appropriation.

This bill creates a grant program administered by the Higher Educational Aids
Board (HEAB) for pharmacists who engage in the practice of pharmacy in medically
underserved areas in this state.

The bill establishes a rural pharmacy practice grant program to encourage
pharmacists to engage in the practice of pharmacy in medically underserved areas
in this state. To be eligible for the program, a pharmacist must engage in the practice
of pharmacy in a medically underserved area in this state and commit to do so for at
least three years after graduation from a school of pharmacy. For purposes of the bill,
a “medically underserved area" is an area designated as such by the secretary of the
federal Department of Health and Human Services. Under the program, an eligible
pharmacist may be provided up to $45,000 per year in financial assistance for up to
two years. However, HEAB may provide financial assistance to no more than 10
pharmacists per year. A student enrolled in a school of pharmacy may apply to the
program prior to becoming a licensed pharmacist. Financial assistance to a
pharmacist participating in the program is provided after the pharmacist's year of
pharmacy practice in a medically underserved area in this state.