Sec. 487.555. CONTRACT REQUIRED. (a) A health professional may receive assistance under this subchapter only if the health professional signs a contract agreeing to provide health care services in a medically underserved community.

(b) A student in a degree program preparing to become a health professional may contract with the department for the loan reimbursement program under Section 487.553 before obtaining the license required to become a health professional.

(c) The department may contract with a health professional for part-time services under the stipend program established under Section 487.554.

(d) A health professional who participates in any loan reimbursement program is not eligible for a stipend under Section 487.554.

(e) A contract under this section must provide that a health professional who does not provide the required services to the community or provides those services for less than the required time is personally liable to the state for:

(1) the total amount of assistance the health professional received from the department and the medically underserved community;

(2) interest on the amount under Subdivision (1) at a rate set by the department;

(3) the state's reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining payment, including reasonable attorney's fees; and

(4) a penalty as established by the department by rule to help ensure compliance with the contract.

(f) Amounts recovered under Subsection (e) shall be deposited in the permanent endowment fund for the rural communities health care investment program under Section 487.558.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 435, Sec. 2, eff. May 28, 2001. Redesignated from Health and Safety Code Sec. 106.305 and amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 609, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 9.006(e), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1241 (H.B. 2542), Sec. 43, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 112 (H.B. 1918), Sec. 70, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 148 (H.B. 1493), Sec. 35, eff. September 1, 2013.