(1) There is hereby created an educational loan repayment program for eligible physicians, psychologists, and mid-level practitioners at state hospital north, state hospital south, and state hospital west.
(2)  For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(a)  "Mid-level practitioner" means a position at a state hospital that is licensed as a nurse practitioner pursuant to chapter 14, title 54, Idaho Code, or as a physician assistant pursuant to chapter 18, title 54, Idaho Code.
(b)  "Physician" means a physician at a state hospital who is licensed to practice medicine pursuant to chapter 18, title 54, Idaho Code.
(c)  "Psychologist" means a psychologist at a state hospital who is licensed to practice psychology pursuant to chapter 23, title 54, Idaho Code.
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Terms Used In Idaho Code 67-5339

  • Administrator: means the administrator of the division of human resources in the governor’s office. See Idaho Code 67-5302
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Class: means a group of positions sufficiently similar as to the duties performed, degree of supervision exercised or required, minimum requirements of training, experience or skill, and other characteristics that the same title, the same tests of fitness and the same schedule of compensation may be applied to each position in the group. See Idaho Code 67-5302
  • Eligible: means a person who has been determined to be qualified for a classified position and whose name has been placed on the register of eligibles. See Idaho Code 67-5302
  • Position: means a group of duties and responsibilities legally assigned or delegated by one (1) or more appointing authorities and requiring the employment of one (1) person. See Idaho Code 67-5302
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories; and the words "United States" may include the District of Columbia and territories. See Idaho Code 73-114
(3)  The educational loan repayment program shall be subject to appropriation by the Idaho legislature.
(4)  The educational loan repayment program shall be limited to the repayment of outstanding loans accrued prior to employment in a qualifying job class for undergraduate, graduate and medical school incurred by physicians, psychologists or mid-level practitioners who are eligible for the program under the provisions of this section.
(5)  There is hereby created a state hospital governing body. The state hospital governing body shall have the responsibility to oversee the educational loan repayment program and the authority to offer loan repayment disbursements under the program and shall annually review each loan repayment agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (6) of this section and determine whether continuation of the loan repayment program for each participating employee shall occur based on the number of program participants and the availability of funds. The state hospital governing body shall consist of the administrator of the division of behavioral health, the hospital administrator of state hospital south, the president of the medical staff at state hospital south, the hospital administrator of state hospital north, and the hospital administrator of state hospital west. The administrator of the division of behavioral health shall be the chair of the state hospital governing body.
(6)  Employees eligible for loan repayment under the provisions of this section shall be required to enter into an agreement with the state hospital governing body each year a loan repayment disbursement is offered. The agreement shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a)  Disclosure of the employee’s current student loan balance;
(b)  Affirmation by the hospital that the employee has provided no less than two thousand eighty (2,080) credited state service hours prior to first disbursement and that the employee has obtained satisfactory performance standards during this time;
(c)  Affirmation that any subsequent disbursements occur one (1) year or two thousand eighty (2,080) credited state service hours after the previous disbursement and that the employee has obtained satisfactory performance standards during this time; and
(d)  Confirmation that any prior disbursements made under this program were used to pay outstanding student loans.
(7)  Loan repayment disbursements made pursuant to this section shall be limited to a period of four (4) years.
(8)  Loan repayment disbursements made pursuant to this section shall be made as follows:
(a)  For physician reimbursements, a single yearly reimbursement may be made to or on behalf of an eligible physician, not to exceed:
(i)   Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s first year of eligibility;
(ii)  Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s second year of eligibility;
(iii) Twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for the employee’s third year of eligibility; and
(iv)  Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the employee’s fourth year of eligibility.
(b)  For psychologist reimbursements, a single yearly reimbursement may be made to or on behalf of an eligible psychologist, not to exceed:
(i)   Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the employee’s first year of eligibility;
(ii)  Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the employee’s second year of eligibility;
(iii) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s third year of eligibility; and
(iv)  Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s fourth year of eligibility.
(c)  For mid-level practitioner reimbursements, a single yearly reimbursement may be made to or on behalf of an eligible mid-level practitioner, not to exceed:
(i)   Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the employee’s first year of eligibility;
(ii)  Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the employee’s second year of eligibility;
(iii) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s third year of eligibility; and
(iv)  Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s fourth year of eligibility.