HB 425 — An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, providing for J-1 Visa Waiver Physician Grant Program.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

400 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

1820425 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFMARCELL, PENNSYLVANIAVENKAT, HOUSEKHAN BILLAND SessionGREEN, JANUARY 31, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JANUARY 31, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of No.April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), entitled "An act relating to the finances of the State government;

425ambulatory 2025surgical INTRODUCEDcenter BYdata MARCELL,collection, VENKAT,for KHAN,the GREEN,Jointr HANBIDGEUnderwriting ANDAssociation, INGLIS,for JANUARYentertainment 31,business 2025financial ASmanagement REPORTEDfirms, FROMfor COMMITTEEprivate ONdam HEALTH,financial HOUSEassurance OFand REPRESENTATIVES,for ASreinstatement AMENDED, JUNE 3, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of Aprilitem 9,vetoes; 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), entitled "An act relating to the finances of the State government;

providing for cancerthe control,settlement, preventionassessment, collection, and research,lien forof ambulatorytaxes, surgicalbonus, centerand dataall collection,other foraccounts due the JointCommonwealth, Underwritingthe Association,collection forand entertainmentrecovery businessof financialfees managementand firms,other formoney privateor damproperty financialdue assuranceor belonging to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, including escheated property and forthe reinstatementproceeds of itemits vetoes;sale, the custody and disbursement or other disposition of funds and securities belonging to or in the possession of the Commonwealth, and the settlement of claims against the Commonwealth, the resettlement of accounts and appeals to the courts, refunds of moneys erroneously paid to the Commonwealth, auditing the accounts of the Commonwealth and all agencies thereof, of all public officers collecting moneys payable to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, and all receipts of appropriations from the Commonwealth, authorizing the Commonwealth to issue tax anticipation notes to defray current expenses, implementing the provisions of section 7(a) of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania authorizing and restricting the incurring of certain debt and imposing penalties;

providingaffecting forevery thedepartment, settlement,board, assessment,commission, collection, and lienofficer of taxes, bonus, and all other accounts due the Commonwealth,State thegovernment, collectionevery andpolitical recoverysubdivision of fees and other money or property due or belonging to the Commonwealth,State, or any agency thereof, including escheated property and thecertain proceedsofficers of itssuch sale,subdivisions, andevery securitiesperson, belongingassociation, to or in the possession of thends Commonwealth, and thecorporation settlementrequired of claims against the Commonwealth, the resettlement of accounts and appeals to thepay, courts,assess, refundsor ofcollect moneystaxes, erroneouslyor paid to themake Commonwealth,returns auditingor thereports accountsunder of the Commonwealthlaws andimposing alltaxes agenciesfor thereof,State ofpurposes, allor public officers collecting moneys payable to thepay Commonwealth,license fees or anyevery agencyState thereof,depository and allevery receiptsdebtor ofor appropriationscreditor from the Commonwealth, authorizing the Commonwealth to issue tax anticipation notes to defray current expenses, implementing the provisions of section 7(a) of Article VIII of the ConstitutionCommonwealth," ofproviding Pennsylvaniafor authorizingJ-1 andVisa restrictingWaiver thePrimary incurringCare ofPhysician certainGrant debtProgram; and imposing penalties;

affecting every department, board, commission, and officer of the State government, every political subdivision of the State, and certain officers of such subdivisions, every person, association, and corporation required to pay, assess, or collect taxes, or to make returns or reports under the laws imposing taxes for State purposes, or to pay license fees or other moneys to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, every State depository and every debtor or creditor of the Commonwealth," providing for J-1 Visa Waiver Primary Care <-- Physician Grant Program;

<-- The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

ARTICLE I-M J-1 VISA WAIVER PRIMARY CARE <-- PHYSICIAN GRANT PROGRAM Section 101-M.

This article relates to the J-1 Visa Waiver Primary Care <-- Physician Grant Program.

§ <-- 1184(l) (relating to admission of nonimmigrants) that authorizes an individual with a J-1 visa to apply for a waiver of the two- year foreign residence requirement upon completion of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program under Federal law.

"Employer." A person, firm, partnership, association or <-- corporation that:

20250HB0425PN1820 - 2 - "Flex 10 waiver." The waiver authorized under 8 U.S.C.

§ 20250HB0425PN0400 - 2 - 1184(l)(1)(D) that allows the department to recommend approval of up to 10 requests from employers that:

"EMPLOYER." A PERSON, FIRM, PARTNERSHIP, ASSOCIATION OR <-- CORPORATION THAT EMPLOYS A PHYSICIAN.

"HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA." A DESIGNATION USED TO <-- IDENTIFY AREAS AND POPULATION GROUPS WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH THAT ARE EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS.

20250HB0425PN1820 - 3 - (7) Obstetrics.

"Primary care health professional shortage area." A <-- designation used to identify areas and population groups within this Commonwealth that are experiencing a shortage of physicians.

20250HB0425PN0400 - 3 - "Program." The J-1 Visa Waiver Primary Care Physician Grant <-- Program established under section 103-M.

The J-1 Visa Waiver Primary Care Physician Grant Program is <-- established in and shall be administered by the department.

(4) The department shall receive and consider applications on a rolling basis until funding for grants have <-- been completely disbursed or until December 31, 2030, whichever occurs first.

IN A MANNER DETERMINED BY THE <-- DEPARTMENT UNTIL FUNDING FOR GRANTS IS COMPLETELY DISBURSED OR UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2032, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.

An employer that applies for a grant shall certify in good 20250HB0425PN1820 - 4 - faith all of the following:

(1) The employer employs a physician UTILIZING AN <-- APPROVED J-1 VISA to work in a designated medically underserved area, a primary care OR health professional <-- shortage area or a designated area that has been approved for <-- a Flex 10 waiver.

(2) The employed physician has been approved for a Conrad 30 waiver..waiver.

<-- (3) (2) The grant will be used to assist the employer in <--20250HB0425PN0400 - 4 - paying the salary of the employed physician.

(4) (3) The grant will not be used for more than one <-- physician per calendar year.

(5) (4) The employer agrees to comply with the program <-- requirements established by the department.

(6) (5) Acknowledgment that failure to comply with the <-- program requirements established by the department:

(7) (6) That the information provided in the application <-- and all supporting documents and forms is true and accurate in all material aspects.

20250HB0425PN1820 - 5 - (b) Grant agreement.--After approval of an application, the department shall enter into a grant agreement with the employer.

20250HB0425PN0400 - 5 - (2) The grant agreement shall explain the department's policies and procedures related to the Conrad 30 waiver, the <-- Flex 10 waiver J-1 VISA WAIVER, THE TYPES OF WAIVERS THE <-- DEPARTMENT MAY FACILITATE and other policies and procedures that must be followed under Federal or State regulations.

(c) Awards.-- (1) The department shall distribute a grant award to an employer in accordance with this article no later than 60 90 <-- days after approval of a grant application by the department.

(d) Priority of grant awards.--The department shall give <-- priority in the awarding of a grant to employers that have not previously been awarded a grant for another physician during the 20250HB0425PN1820 - 6 - same calendar year.

(D) CRITERIA FOR GRANT FROM DEPARTMENT.--THE DEPARTMENT <-- SHALL GIVE PRIORITY IN THE AWARDING OF A GRANT TO EMPLOYERS THAT:

(1) HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN AWARDED A GRANT FOR ANOTHER PHYSICIAN DURING THE SAME CALENDAR YEAR;

AND (2) ARE LOCATED IN A DESIGNATED MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREA, A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA OR RURAL COUNTY AND ARE INDEPENDENT ENTITIES NOT OWNED BY, MANAGED BY OR AFFILIATED WITH ANY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, A LEGALLY SEPARATE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR OTHER ENTITY.

(a) Contents.--No later than December 31 of each yearyear, THE <-- YEAR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION AND EACH DECEMBER 31 THEREAFTER, the department shall publish a report on its publicly accessible Internet website that contains the following information:

(3) The amount of the grant, the purpose of the grant and a description of the financial impact on the grant 20250HB0425PN0400 - 6 - recipient.

(4) The total amount of the appropriation under section <-- 109-M ALLOCATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY that has been <-- distributed each calendar year.