Authority: §§ 23.1-614 and 32.1-122.5:1 through 32.1-122.10, Code of Virginia.

A. This appropriation shall only be used for the provision of loans or scholarships in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Board of Health, or for the administration, management, and reporting thereof. The department may move appropriation between scholarship or loan repayment programs as long as the scholarship or loan repayment is in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Board of Health.

B. The Virginia Department of Health shall collaborate with the Virginia Health Care Foundation and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the state teaching hospitals, and other relevant stakeholders on a plan to increase the number of Virginia behavioral health practitioners, including licensed clinical psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners, practicing in Virginia's community services boards, behavioral health authorities, state mental health facilities, free clinics, federally qualified health centers and other similar health safety net organizations through the use of a student loan repayment program. The program design shall address the need for behavioral health professionals in behavioral health shortage areas; the types of behavioral health practitioners needed across communities; the results of community health needs assessments that have been completed by hospitals, localities or other organizations; and shortages that may exist in high cost of living areas, which may preclude individuals from choosing employment in public and non-profit community behavioral health and safety net organizations and state mental health facilities. The program design shall include a preference for applicants who choose employment in underserved areas of the Commonwealth and contain conditions for recipients to practice in these areas for at least two years. The program shall be implemented by the Virginia Department of Health. The plan shall identify opportunities to leverage state funding for the program with funds from other sources in order to maximize the total funding for such a program. The plan shall determine how the program can complement and coordinate with existing efforts to recruit and retain Virginia behavioral health practitioners.