Senate Bill 2296 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 49-9-706, to enhance the administration of the family medicine student loan repayment program. The bill deletes the existing subsection (d) and replaces it with new provisions that outline the responsibilities of the Department of Health in managing the program. It allows the department to either administer the program directly or contract with a nonprofit organization that meets specific criteria, including being a 501(c)(3) organization, maintaining a principal office in Tennessee, and being affiliated with a nonprofit membership organization of family physicians, residents, and medical students.

Additionally, the bill empowers the Department of Health, in consultation with relevant educational and medical boards, to establish rules for the program's management and administration, ensuring compliance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. This legislative change aims to incentivize physicians to provide health services in underserved areas by facilitating loan repayment options for those in the family medicine field. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the importance of public welfare in its implementation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-9-706