A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE Department of Health and Human Services, OFFICE OF rURAL HEALTH, FOR RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health, the sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year, and the sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year. These funds shall be used for the Rural Obstetrical Care Incentive Fund in the Office of Rural Health to make grants to physicians who are adversely affected by the high cost of professional liability insurance. Grant funds shall be allocated solely for the purpose of subsidizing in whole or in part the costs associated with obtaining or maintaining professional liability insurance for physicians in health care manpower shortage areas of the State as defined by the Office of Rural Health.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health, the sum of one million four hundred thousand dollars ($1,400,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year, and the sum of one million four hundred thousand dollars ($1,400,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used for recruitment incentives and practice support incentives for physicians who are practicing or who intend to practice in health manpower shortage areas of the State.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.