N 112 STAT. 3536 PUBLIC LAW 105-392—NOV. 13, 1998 42 USC 293d. Deadline. objectives with institutions of higher education, school districts, and other community-based entities. "(2) Such formal agreements shall reflect the coordination of educational activities and support services, increased linkages, and the consolidation of resources within a specific geographic area. "(3) The design of the educational activities involved shall provide for the establishment of a competitive hoEdth professions applicant pool of individueds from disadvantaged backgrounds by enhancing the total preparation (academic and social) of such individuals to pursue a health professions career. "(4) The programs or activities under the award shall focus on developing a culturally competent heeJth care workforce that will serve the unserved suid underserved populations within the geographic area. "(c) EQUITABLE ALLOCATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— The Secretary, to the extent practicable, shall ensure that services and activities under subsection (a) are adequately allocated among the various racial and ethnic populations who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. "(d) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may require that an entity that applies for a grant or contract under subsection (a), provide non-Federal matching funds, as appropriate, to ensure the institutional commitment of the entity to the projects funded under the grant or contract. As determined by the Secretary, such non-Feder^ matching funds may be provided directly or through donations from public or private entities and may be in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, including plsuit, equipment, or services. "SEC. 740. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION. "(a) SCHOLARSHIPS. —There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 737, $37,000,000 for fiscal year 1998, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2002. Of the amount appropriated in any fiscal year, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 16 percent shall be distributed to schools of nursing. "(b) LOAN REPAYMENTS AND FELLOWSHIPS. —For the purpose of canning out section 738, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,100,000 for fiscal year 1998, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2002. " (c) EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN HEALTH PROFESSIONS REGARDING INDIVIDUALS FOR DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS.—For the purpose of grants and contracts under section 739(a)(l), there is authorized to be appropriated $29,400,000 for fiscal year 1998, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2002. The Secretary may use not to exceed 20 percent of the amount appropriated for a fiscal year under this subsection to provide scholarships under section 739(a)(2)(F). "(d) REPORT.— Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this part, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the efforts of the Secretsiry to address the need for a representative mix of individuals from historically minority health professions schools, or from institutions or other entities that historically or by geographic location have a demonstrated record of training or educating underrepresented minorities, within various health professions disciplines, on peer review councils.".
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