(a) (1) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services shall distribute available funds from the Arkansas Behavioral Health Professional Student Loan Repayment Fund to participants proportionally among the eligible professions according to the vacancy rate for mental health professionals and licensed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors.(2) If the secretary does not receive enough qualified applicants each year to use the entire allocation of funds for one (1) eligible profession, the remaining funds may be allocated proportionally among the other eligible professions according to the vacancy rate for each profession, as determined by the secretary.
(1) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services shall distribute available funds from the Arkansas Behavioral Health Professional Student Loan Repayment Fund to participants proportionally among the eligible professions according to the vacancy rate for mental health professionals and licensed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors.
(2) If the secretary does not receive enough qualified applicants each year to use the entire allocation of funds for one (1) eligible profession, the remaining funds may be allocated proportionally among the other eligible professions according to the vacancy rate for each profession, as determined by the secretary.
(b) Upon the completion of each year that a participant meets the service obligation required under § 6-81-2104(b), up to a maximum of three (3) years, the secretary shall make annual disbursements from the fund directly to the participant in an amount equivalent to fifteen percent (15%) of the average educational debt for indebted graduates in the participant's profession in the year closest to the participant's selection for the Behavioral Health Loan Forgiveness Program for which information is available, not to exceed the balance of the participant's qualifying educational loans.
(c) (1) Before receiving loan repayment disbursements from the fund and as requested by the secretary, a participant shall complete and return to the secretary a confirmation of practice form provided by the secretary verifying that the participant is practicing as required under § 6-81-2104(b).(2) A participant who moves his or her practice to a new location remains eligible for loan repayment in the program as long as he or she practices as required under § 6-81-2104(b).(3) The participant shall verify to the secretary with documentation that the full amount of loan repayment disbursement from the fund received by the participant as part of the program has been applied toward the designated eligible loan.(4) The secretary shall not make an additional loan repayment disbursement to a participant from the fund until the verification required by subdivision (c)(3) of this section has been received by the secretary.
(1) Before receiving loan repayment disbursements from the fund and as requested by the secretary, a participant shall complete and return to the secretary a confirmation of practice form provided by the secretary verifying that the participant is practicing as required under § 6-81-2104(b).
(2) A participant who moves his or her practice to a new location remains eligible for loan repayment in the program as long as he or she practices as required under § 6-81-2104(b).
(3) The participant shall verify to the secretary with documentation that the full amount of loan repayment disbursement from the fund received by the participant as part of the program has been applied toward the designated eligible loan.
(4) The secretary shall not make an additional loan repayment disbursement to a participant from the fund until the verification required by subdivision (c)(3) of this section has been received by the secretary.
(d) (1) If a participant does not fulfill the contract of service required under § 6-81-2104(b), the secretary shall:(A) Collect from the participant the total amount paid to the participant under the program plus interest at a rate of five percent (5%) per annum; and(B) Deposit the money collected under this subchapter into the fund.(2) The secretary shall allow waivers of all or part of the money owed to the secretary as a result of the nonfulfillment penalty under subdivision (d)(1) of this section if, subject to the secretary's discretion, exigent circumstances prevented the participant's fulfillment of the terms of the contract required by § 6-81-2104(b).
(1) If a participant does not fulfill the contract of service required under § 6-81-2104(b), the secretary shall:(A) Collect from the participant the total amount paid to the participant under the program plus interest at a rate of five percent (5%) per annum; and(B) Deposit the money collected under this subchapter into the fund.
(A) Collect from the participant the total amount paid to the participant under the program plus interest at a rate of five percent (5%) per annum; and
(B) Deposit the money collected under this subchapter into the fund.
(2) The secretary shall allow waivers of all or part of the money owed to the secretary as a result of the nonfulfillment penalty under subdivision (d)(1) of this section if, subject to the secretary's discretion, exigent circumstances prevented the participant's fulfillment of the terms of the contract required by § 6-81-2104(b).