If funds are available in the rural practice incentive fund created under section 3333.136 of the Revised Code and the general assembly has appropriated funds for the rural practice incentive program, the chancellor of higher education shall approve an individual for participation in the program, for reimbursement up to fifty thousand dollars, if the chancellor finds that the individual is eligible for participation in the program.

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Upon approval, the chancellor shall notify and enter into discussions with the individual. The object of the discussions is to facilitate the recruitment of the individual to become or remain employed as a service attorney within an underserved community.

If the chancellor and individual agree on the individual’s employment as a service attorney within an underserved community, the individual shall prepare, sign, and deliver to the chancellor a letter of intent agreeing to that placement.

The chancellor shall approve individuals for participation in the rural practice incentive program in a manner proportionate to the number of each of the following types of attorneys who apply to the program, with an aim toward disbursing loan repayments equitably among each type:

(A) Attorneys employed by the prosecuting attorney of a county;

(B) Attorneys employed by the state public defender, a county public defender commission, or a joint county public defender commission to represent indigent persons;

(C) Attorneys described in division (B) of section 3333.13 of the Revised Code.