1. Positions. The Access to Medical Education Program is established under this section. Under this program, the chief executive officer shall secure up to 21 positions annually for Maine students at schools of allopathic, osteopathic or veterinary medical education up to an aggregate of 84 positions. Five positions are for students of osteopathic medicine, 15 positions are for students of allopathic medicine and one position is for students of veterinary medicine. If there is an insufficient number of qualified applicants for positions in either allopathic or osteopathic medicine, the chief executive officer may increase or decrease the number of positions available in either discipline. The allopathic and osteopathic medicine positions are available only to eligible students commencing professional education on or after January 1, 1993 and on or before September 30, 2009. The veterinary medicine positions are available only to eligible students commencing professional education on or after January 1, 1999 and on or before September 30, 2010. Commencing January 1, 2010, the chief executive officer may not secure any new positions for students at schools of allopathic or osteopathic medicine and shall secure only the number of positions necessary to allow students already occupying such positions as of January 1, 2010 to complete their remaining medical education, up to 3 years, at the institution. Commencing January 1, 2011, the chief executive officer may not secure a new position for a student at a school of veterinary medicine and shall secure only the number of positions necessary to allow students occupying such positions as of January 1, 2011 to complete their remaining medical education, up to 3 years, at the institution. Commencing July 1, 2013, the chief executive officer may not secure any further positions at schools of allopathic or osteopathic medicine under this section. Commencing July 1, 2014, the chief executive officer may not secure any further positions at a school of veterinary medicine under this section.

2. Application process. Students shall apply directly to an institution of allopathic, osteopathic or veterinary medical education with which the authority has a contract to secure positions.

3. Requirements. Each student obtaining a position in an institution of allopathic or osteopathic medical education shall enter into an agreement with the authority by which the student agrees during the student’s medical education to complete clinical education in rural areas and health professional shortage areas of this State as provided in the contract between the institutions of medical education and the authority. Each student obtaining a position in an institution of veterinary medical education shall enter into an agreement with the authority by which the student agrees during the student’s medical education to complete clinical education in an area determined to have insufficient veterinary services as provided in the contract between the institutions of veterinary medicine and the authority.

4. Repayment of tuition differential. A student receiving a position secured by the authority shall enter into an agreement with the authority promising to pay back to the authority any amounts expended by the authority that reduce the nonresident tuition to be paid by the student. Such an agreement must be on the same terms and conditions as the agreement required by section 12104.