SB 614 — An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, providing for primary care workforce initiative; and making an appropriation.

PRINTER'S NO.   644

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                      SENATE BILL
                      No. 614
                                             Session of
                                               2025

     INTRODUCED BY BROOKS, COLLETT, COMITTA, FONTANA, KEARNEY, KANE,
        STEFANO AND ROBINSON, APRIL 14, 2025

     REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, APRIL 14, 2025


                                  AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), entitled
 2      "An act relating to the finances of the State government;
 3      providing for cancer control, prevention and research, for
 4      ambulatory surgical center data collection, for the Joint
 5      Underwriting Association, for entertainment business
 6      financial management firms, for private dam financial
 7      assurance and for reinstatement of item vetoes; providing for
 8      the settlement, assessment, collection, and lien of taxes,
 9      bonus, and all other accounts due the Commonwealth, the
10      collection and recovery of fees and other money or property
11      due or belonging to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof,
12      including escheated property and the proceeds of its sale,
13      the custody and disbursement or other disposition of funds
14      and securities belonging to or in the possession of the
15      Commonwealth, and the settlement of claims against the
16      Commonwealth, the resettlement of accounts and appeals to the
17      courts, refunds of moneys erroneously paid to the
18      Commonwealth, auditing the accounts of the Commonwealth and
19      all agencies thereof, of all public officers collecting
20      moneys payable to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof,
21      and all receipts of appropriations from the Commonwealth,
22      authorizing the Commonwealth to issue tax anticipation notes
23      to defray current expenses, implementing the provisions of
24      section 7(a) of Article VIII of the Constitution of
25      Pennsylvania authorizing and restricting the incurring of
26      certain debt and imposing penalties; affecting every
27      department, board, commission, and officer of the State
28      government, every political subdivision of the State, and
29      certain officers of such subdivisions, every person,
30      association, and corporation required to pay, assess, or
31      collect taxes, or to make returns or reports under the laws
32      imposing taxes for State purposes, or to pay license fees or
33      other moneys to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof,
34      every State depository and every debtor or creditor of the
 1      Commonwealth," providing for FQHC primary care workforce
 2      initiative; and making an appropriation.
 3      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 4   hereby enacts as follows:
 5      Section 1.    The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known
 6   as The Fiscal Code, is amended by adding an article to read:
 7                                ARTICLE I-M
 8                   FQHC PRIMARY CARE WORKFORCE INITIATIVE
 9   Section 101-M.    Definitions.
10      The following words and phrases when used in this article
11   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12   context clearly indicates otherwise:
13      "Accredited medical college."         As follows:
14          (1)    As defined under section 2 of the act of December
15      20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act
16      of 1985.
17          (2)    An osteopathic medical college as defined under
18      section 2 of the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261),
19      known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.
20          (3)    An institution of higher education that meets the
21      requirements of section 6.1 of the act of May 22, 1951
22      (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law.
23          (4)    A program at an institution of higher education that
24      meets the requirements of 49 Pa. Code § 18.131 (relating to
25      recognized educational programs/standards).
26          (5)    A program at an institution of higher education that
27      meets the requirements of 49 Pa. Code § 25.151 (relating to
28      certification of physician assistant educational programs).
29          (6)    An institution of higher education that meets the
30      requirements of section 3(c) of the act of May 1, 1933
31      (P.L.216, No.76), known as The Dental Law.

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 1      "Certified registered nurse practitioner."     An individual
 2   licensed as a certified registered nurse practitioner under The
 3   Professional Nursing Law.
 4      "Dentist."    An individual licensed in the practice of
 5   dentistry under The Dental Law.
 6      "Department."    The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
 7      "FQHC."    A federally qualified health center as defined under
 8   42 U.S.C. § 1395x(aa)(4) (relating to definitions).
 9      "Physician."    A medical doctor licensed under the Medical
10   Practice Act of 1985 or a doctor of osteopathic medicine
11   licensed under the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.
12      "Physician assistant."    An individual licensed as a physician
13   assistant under the Medical Practice Act of 1985 or the
14   Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.
15      "Preceptor."    A primary care practitioner supervising or
16   directing a student enrolled in the FQHC primary care workforce
17   initiative.
18      "Primary care practitioner."     A physician, physician
19   assistant, certified registered nurse practitioner, dentist or
20   psychiatrist employed by a FQHC.
21      "Student."    An individual currently satisfying clinical
22   rotation from an accredited medical college at a FQHC and
23   enrolled in the FQHC primary care workforce initiative.
24   Section 102-M.    FQHC primary care workforce initiative.
25      (a)   Establishment.--Within one year of the effective date of
26   this subsection, the department shall establish the FQHC primary
27   care workforce initiative within the department.
28      (b)   Purpose.--The FQHC primary care workforce initiative
29   shall be a voluntary program to offer a clinical rotation
30   placement at a FQHC for a student attending an accredited

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 1   medical college.
 2      (c)   Appropriation.--The sum of $2,500,000 is appropriated to
 3   the department from the General Fund for grants awarded under
 4   this section. Money shall not be distributed under this section
 5   until the establishment of the FQHC primary care workforce
 6   initiative by the department.
 7      (d)   Grant awards.--Grants awarded by the department under
 8   this section shall be equal amounts to each FQHC in this
 9   Commonwealth that is enrolled in the FQHC primary care workforce
10   initiative as a stipend to support a preceptor or student.
11      Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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