SB335 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Larry StuttsSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Physician Initiative, phase in provision of 100 scholarships per year, scholarships for students who commit to practice family medicine in underserved areas of state, AL. Medical Education Consortium to administer, Dept. of Public Health to fund

Summary

SB335 creates the Alabama Physician Initiative to provide tuition scholarships to Alabama medical students who commit to practicing family medicine in rural, high-need areas for five years after residency, funded by the Department of Public Health and administered by the Alabama Medical Education Consortium.

What This Bill Does

It phases in up to 100 scholarships per year, starting with 25 in 2017-2018, for medical students at Alabama colleges of medicine who agree to practice family medicine in rural Areas with the greatest need after residency. Scholarships cover tuition funding and may not replace other financial aid. Students sign service contracts agreeing to complete a three-year family medicine residency in Alabama and then practice for five years in designated rural primary care shortage areas, with placement determined by the Consortium based on state needs.

Who It Affects

• Medical students enrolled in Alabama colleges of medicine who participate and receive scholarships, and who must commit to five years of rural family medicine practice after residency.
• Rural Alabama communities that face primary care shortages and would gain physicians in designated rural areas.
• The Alabama Medical Education Consortium, which administers the scholarship program and placement.
• Colleges of medicine located in Alabama, which enter into agreements with the Consortium and participate in selecting scholarship recipients.
• The State Department of Public Health, which provides funding for the scholarships through legislative appropriation.

Key Provisions

• Phase-in plan: begin with up to 25 incoming first-year students per fall, with a maximum of 100 scholars at any time.
• Scholarship funds: tuition funding for participating medical students; funds cannot replace other financial aid.
• Selection: the Consortium and participating colleges jointly select students; if a student declines, an alternate may be chosen.
• Service contract: scholars sign to complete a three-year family medicine residency in Alabama and to practice five years in rural Alabama under the contract terms.
• Residency and placement: residency must be in Alabama; post-residency practice location is in rural primary care shortage areas designated by the placement system.
• Noncompliance: failure to meet contract terms requires repayment of scholarship funds with interest.
• Funding and oversight: scholarships funded by legislative appropriation through the State Department of Public Health; annual reports and funding requests to the Legislature are required.
• Administration: the Alabama Medical Education Consortium handles management, staff, and accountability for the program.
• Effective date: law takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Physician Initiative