REAUTHORIZATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

SEC. 603. REAUTHORIZATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.(a) In General.—Section 7618 is amended by striking “December 31, 1998” and inserting “December 31, 2014”.(b) Expansion of Eligibility Requirements.—Section 7612(b)(2) is amended by striking “(under section” and all that follows through “or vocational nurse.” and inserting the following: “as an appointee under paragraph (1) or (3) of section 7401 of this title.”.(c) Additional Program Requirements.—Subchapter II of chapter 76, as amended by subsections (a) and (b), is further amended—(1) by redesignating section 7618 as section 7619; and(2) by inserting after section 7617 the following new section:“§ 7618. Additional program requirements“(a) Program Modification.—Notwithstanding any provision of this subchapter, the Secretary shall carry out this subchapter after the date of the enactment of this section by modifying the Scholarship Program in such a manner that the program and hiring 124 STAT. 1174 processes are designed to fully employ Scholarship Program graduates as soon as possible, if not immediately, upon graduation and completion of necessary certifications, and to actively assist and monitor graduates to ensure certifications are obtained in a minimal amount of time following graduation.“(b) Clinical Tours.—The Secretary shall require participants in the Scholarship Program to perform clinical tours in assignments or locations determined by the Secretary while the participants are enrolled in the course of education or training for which the scholarship is provided.“(c) Mentors.—The Secretary shall ensure that at the commencement of the period of obligated service of a participant in the Scholarship Program, the participant is assigned to a mentor who is employed in the same facility where the participant performs such service.” .(d) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 76 is amended by striking the item relating to section 7618 and inserting the following new items: “7618. Additional program requirements. “7619. Expiration of program.”.