Title 17 — Education

This chapter shall be referred to as the Access to Medical Training and Education Act or AMTE.

The Legislature finds that there continues to be an urgent need for physicians to serve Guam and the region. The Guam Memorial Hospital and other health organizations on the island continue to find it very difficult to hire physicians to serve the health needs of the people of Gu…

(a) The Department of Education shall develop and implement a Pre- Medical Program curriculum for the island's public high schools. Such program shall include the following: 1. Identifying and recruiting students who show interest in science and health-related fields; 2. Granting…

The University of Guam (the "University") shall develop and implement a Pre-Medical Program curriculum. The curriculum's objective shall be to prepare a student at the University to meet all the requirements necessary to apply to professional schools of medicine, to prepare for t…

The AMTE Council shall be composed of the following: (1) The Administrator of the Guam Memorial Hospital; (2) The Director of Public Health and Social Services; (3) The Chairman of the Board of Medical Examiners; COL 110609 (4) The President of the Guam Medical Society; (5) The P…

The Office of the President of the University shall provide logistics and personnel necessary for the operation of the AMTE Council.

There is hereby established within the office of the President of the University the AMTE Fellowship Administrator, full- or part-time, if needed, who shall work in conjunction with the President of the University in the administration of the Pre-Medical Program at the University…

Financial assistance may be awarded by the AMTE Council to eligible students enrolled in the Pre-Medical Program at the University who are: (a) Bona fide residents of Guam for at least ten (10) years; (b) Citizens or permanent residents of the United States; (c) Seniors or gradua…

To be eligible to continue to receive financial assistance under such program, the student must remain in good academic standing for each academic year given assistance under such program.

(a) A student who for any reason is terminated from the Pre-Medical Program shall repay to the AMTE Medical Fund as established in this chapter an amount equal to the total financial assistance received by the student within five (5) years of such termination from the Program wit…

(a) Students in the Pre-Medical School Program at the University must complete an application form provided by the AMTE Council and satisfy all the requirements set out in § 47103.6 of this chapter. (b) Students enrolled in the Pre-Medical School Program and selected for financia…

There is hereby established a Doctor of Medicine Fellowship Program under the AMTE Council for the following purposes: (1) To provide physicians for Guam Memorial Hospital, the Department of Public Health and Social Services, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, a…

The Fellowship Program shall be administered by the AMTE Council, and all such fellowships shall be granted by the AMTE Council.

The government of Guam shall make available a position at the Guam Memorial Hospital, the Department of Public Health and Social Service, or any other government health-related facility to a returning fellow within three (3) months of the completion of his or her medical training…

The budget for financial assistance, salaries, stipend, travel and operational requirements of the AMTE Council as provided in this chapter COL 110609 shall be submitted for the Fiscal Year 1994 and annually thereafter by the AMTE Council for approval by the Legislature. The Legi…

There is hereby established a Physicians Fellowship Fund, hereinafter referred to as the AMTE Fellowship Fund from which fellowships and financial assistance granted pursuant to this chapter as well as the cost for administering the Programs shall be funded. The AMTE Fellowship F…

Reserves of the AMTE Fellowship Fund in excess of requirements for current operations may be invested and reinvested by the AMTE Council. At its discretion, the AMTE Council may designate its Chairman or an investment committee consisting of two (2) or more AMTE Council members t…

The AMTE Council, subject to the provisions of the Administrative Adjudication Law, shall promulgate regulations pursuant to and not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.

The names of all students granted fellowships under this chapter shall be submitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the Legislature, and the President of the University no later than January 15th of each calendar year.

The AMTE Council shall prescribe by regulation necessary application forms and procedures for all financial assistance fellowships authorized by this chapter.

No money may be expended for awards under this chapter unless such awards are authorized by the AMTE Council by resolution. Any person who disburses or certifies any expenditure from the AMTE Fellowship Fund without such authorization shall be personally liable for the restitutio…

Disability. The AMTE Council may, upon the death or disability of a student who has received any financial assistance under the provisions of this chapter, COL 110609 discharge in full or in part all such student's obligations for the repayment of such assistance.

The AMTE Council may select up to five (5) applicants per academic year for fellowship awards. The names shall be submitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the Legislature, and President of the University no later than January 15th of each year. With the submission of the names t…

An applicant for a fellowship must: (a) Be a bona fide resident of Guam for at least ten (10) years; (b) Be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident; (c) Provide proof of acceptance into a school of medicine at an accredited institution of higher education in the Un…

Students awarded a physician fellowship pursuant to this chapter shall receive the following benefits: (a) All costs of tuition, fees, and books for a period of not more than four (4) academic years; (b) A monthly stipend of up to Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) as determined by th…

COL 110609 (a) A fellow who attends medical school under the physician fellowship program shall agree to return to work for the government of Guam within three (3) months after the completion of the course of studies for which the fellowship was granted; provided, however, that i…

Guam. In meeting the obligation to repay the financial assistance given in the Pre-Medical and Fellowship Programs established in this chapter, the following rules shall apply: For each year of the Pre-Medical Program, one (1) year's service on Guam; for each year of the Fellowsh…

For purposes of this chapter, physician means the holder of a doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree.

The AMTE Council shall reevaluate the continued need for the provisions of this chapter within ten (10) years of the date of its enactment and shall report in writing its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

If any provision of this chapter is found to be illegal or invalid, said finding shall be severable and shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this chapter. ---------- COL 110609