1 Higher Education Commission. Amend RSA 21-N:8-a, II(e)(10) to read as follows:

(10) Administer, at no cost to the state, the health care professionals scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c.

(11) Assume other responsibilities as may be provided in state or federal law.

2 New Section; Health Care Professionals Scholarship Program. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 8-b the following new section:

21-N:8-c Health Care Professionals Scholarship Program Established.

I. There is hereby established a health care professionals scholarship program for high school students who elect to pursue careers in any of the health care professions, which shall be administered by the higher education commission. The purpose of this program is to provide public postsecondary education and training opportunities to every graduate of a public secondary school in New Hampshire by providing reimbursement for the costs of tuition and books to any student who is a resident of this state, who is pursuing a degree at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire in a field in the health care professions, and who is employed in a health care profession in this state for at least 5 years after graduation. All funds received pursuant to this chapter shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of this program.

II. A student who is interested in pursuing a degree in a health care professions field at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire and who graduated in the top 20 percent of his or her graduating class shall be eligible to apply for the scholarship. An eligible student shall submit an application to the higher education commission, on a form developed by the commission.

III. Applicants who are selected to receive a scholarship under this program shall maintain a 2.75 grade point average and meet such other criteria as may be established by the commission. Applicants selected shall receive reimbursement for up to $5,000 per year for up to 4 years for the costs of tuition and books. Scholarship recipients shall be required to work in the state of New Hampshire for a minimum of 5 years after graduation.

IV. All funds in the health care professionals scholarship fund established in this section shall be used annually to provide scholarships under this program.

V. There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer a fund to be known as the health care professionals scholarship fund. The fund shall include any sums appropriated for such purpose. In addition, the higher education commission may accept public sector and private sector grants, gifts, or donations of any kind for the purpose of funding the provisions of this section. The moneys in this fund shall be nonlapsing and shall be continually appropriated to the higher education commission. The fund shall be expended by the higher education commission to reimburse students for the costs of tuition and books in accordance with this section. The state treasurer may invest moneys in the fund as provided by law, with interest received on such investment credited to the fund.

VI. The higher education commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the following:

(a) Instituting a scholarship application process.

(b) Establishing academic and other standards by which scholarships shall be awarded.

(c) Establishing priorities in awarding scholarships where the funds available for scholarships are less than the amount needed for eligible applicants.

(d) Establishing procedures for awarding and disbursing scholarships.

3 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; Health Care Professionals Scholarship Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (333) the following new subparagraph:

(334) Moneys deposited in the health care professionals scholarship fund established in RSA 21-N:8-c.

4 Appropriation. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 and the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 are hereby appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of the health care professionals scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.

1 Higher Education Commission. Amend RSA 21-N:8-a, II(e)(10) to read as follows:

(10) Administer, at no cost to the state, the health care professionals scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c.

(11) Assume other responsibilities as may be provided in state or federal law.

2 New Section; Health Care Professionals Scholarship Program. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 8-b the following new section:

21-N:8-c Health Care Professionals Scholarship Program Established.

I. There is hereby established a health care professionals scholarship program for high school students who elect to pursue careers in any of the health care professions, which shall be administered by the higher education commission. The purpose of this program is to provide public postsecondary education and training opportunities to every graduate of a public secondary school in New Hampshire by providing reimbursement for the costs of tuition and books to any student who is a resident of this state, who is pursuing a degree at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire in a field in the health care professions, and who is employed in a health care profession in this state for at least 5 years after graduation. All funds received pursuant to this chapter shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of this program.

II. A student who is interested in pursuing a degree in a health care professions field at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire and who graduated in the top 20 percent of his or her graduating class shall be eligible to apply for the scholarship. An eligible student shall submit an application to the higher education commission, on a form developed by the commission.

III. Applicants who are selected to receive a scholarship under this program shall maintain a 2.75 grade point average and meet such other criteria as may be established by the commission. Applicants selected shall receive reimbursement for up to $5,000 per year for up to 4 years for the costs of tuition and books. Scholarship recipients shall be required to work in the state of New Hampshire for a minimum of 5 years after graduation.

IV. All funds in the health care professionals scholarship fund established in this section shall be used annually to provide scholarships under this program.

V. There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer a fund to be known as the health care professionals scholarship fund. The fund shall include any sums appropriated for such purpose. In addition, the higher education commission may accept public sector and private sector grants, gifts, or donations of any kind for the purpose of funding the provisions of this section. The moneys in this fund shall be nonlapsing and shall be continually appropriated to the higher education commission. The fund shall be expended by the higher education commission to reimburse students for the costs of tuition and books in accordance with this section. The state treasurer may invest moneys in the fund as provided by law, with interest received on such investment credited to the fund.

VI. The higher education commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the following:

(a) Instituting a scholarship application process.

(b) Establishing academic and other standards by which scholarships shall be awarded.

(c) Establishing priorities in awarding scholarships where the funds available for scholarships are less than the amount needed for eligible applicants.

(d) Establishing procedures for awarding and disbursing scholarships.

3 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; Health Care Professionals Scholarship Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (333) the following new subparagraph:

(334) Moneys deposited in the health care professionals scholarship fund established in RSA 21-N:8-c.

4 Appropriation. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 and the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 are hereby appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of the health care professionals scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.