(a) Upon a determination and establishment of the need to recruit and retain registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, X-ray technicians, laboratory technologists, and other health care professionals, the board of supervisors of a county may establish nursing or health care professional scholarships. For purposes of this section, “health care professional” shall not include a physician and surgeon.
(b) The board of supervisors, or a designee of the board, shall administer the scholarship program for students participating in a nurse or health care professional training program and shall adopt such rules and regulations as are reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
(c) Scholarships made pursuant to this section, shall be repayable to the board of supervisors or canceled under the following conditions:
(1) A graduate nurse or health care professional who maintains employment in a county-operated health facility for less than one year after becoming licensed shall repay the scholarship in addition to accrued interest charges. The scholarships shall be repayable to the board of supervisors under the terms specified in the agreement.
(2) The total amount of the scholarship and all accrued interest shall be canceled for a graduate nurse or graduate health care professional who maintains employment in a county-operated facility for more than a year from the date of licensure and may be canceled under any other conditions established by rules and regulations adopted by the board of supervisors. For the purposes of this section, one year of employment in a county-operated health facility shall be deemed to have lapsed one year from the date the licensed nurse or health care professional presents proof, in writing, to the board of supervisors, or designee of the board, that he or she is licensed and is employed in a county-operated health facility.
(d) In addition to the principal amount of the scholarship, interest shall accrue on the principal at a rate to be established by the board of supervisors. Interest shall accrue from the date the scholarship is made until it is repaid unless the scholarship is canceled pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 326, Sec. 3.)