Section 31-34-2. Purpose and intent of chapter

   It is the purpose of this chapter to increase the number of physicians in physician underserved rural areas of Georgia by making loans to physicians who have completed their medical education and allowing such loans to be repaid by such physicians agreeing to practice medicine in such rural areas and by making grants to hospitals and, as determined by the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, other health care entities, local governments, and civic organizations in physician underserved rural areas of Georgia that agree to provide matching funds to the grant, with the intent to enhance recruitment efforts in bringing physicians to such areas. It is the intent of the General Assembly that if funds are available to the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce to make loans, grants, or scholarships under this chapter or under other applicable state law, the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce shall give priority to loans and scholarships under Part 6 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 and to loans under Code Section 31-34-4.

Code 1981, § 31-34-2, enacted by Ga. L. 1989, p. 1234, § 1; Ga. L. 2006, p. 152, § 2B/HB 1178; Ga. L. 2009, p. 8, § 31/SB 46; Ga. L. 2010, p. 322, § 1/HB 866; Ga. L. 2011, p. 459, § 2/HB 509.