Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68.

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT GRANT PROGRAM Subject to specific appropriation of funds by the general assembly, this bill creates a mental health professional loan repayment grant program ("program") to incentivize mental health professionals to practice in this state to provide services in primary care settings in mental health professional shortage areas. The department of mental health and substance abuse services ("department") must administer the program. To be eligible for a mental health professional loan repayment grant, this bill requires a mental health professional individual to satisfy the following conditions on the date the individual begins providing services pursuant to and throughout the term of the agreement: (1) Hold a valid and active license and the necessary credentials to practice in this state; (2) Be actively engaged in providing mental health services in a primary care setting in this state; and (3) Provide direct mental health services in a mental health professional shortage area to (i) medicaid recipients; (ii) enrollees in TennCare or the CoverKids program, or a successor program; (iii) students in a school district that is located partially or completely in a mental health professional shortage area; an open enrollment charter school located in a mental health professional shortage area; or a title I school; (iv) apply to the department for a grant on forms provided by the department and in such manner as the department may require; and (v) enter into a contract with the department to provide mental health services in a mental health professional shortage area for at least three years. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION This bill requires the department to issue program monies to pay mental health professional loan repayment grants to grant recipients for the amount of principal, interest, and related expenses of the professional's educational loans, not to exceed the professional's total student loan indebtedness. Subject to the appropriation of sufficient funds and verification that a mental health professional meets the eligibility requirements, this bill authorizes the department to award mental health professional loan repayment grants of the following amounts for up to six years, as long as the sum of all mental health professional loan repayment grants made to a qualifying mental health professional do not exceed the mental health professional's total student loan indebtedness: (i) up to $40,000 per year if the mental health professional is a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist; and (ii) up to $25,000 per year if the mental health professional is a licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. This bill authorizes the department to use private donations, grants, federal monies, and appropriated state monies to implement, support, promote, or maintain the mental health professional loan repayment program. BREACH OF CONTRACT This bill provides that a mental health professional who receives a mental health professional loan repayment grant and breaches the contract created pursuant to (3)(v) above is liable for liquidated damages in an amount equivalent to the amount that would be owed for default and any other penalties as determined by the department and authorized by law. This bill prohibits the department from making an award of a mental health professional loan repayment grant under this bill for services provided by a mental health professional prior to the date the professional's application for a grant is accepted by the department. ANNUAL REPORT No later than February 1 of the calendar year following the first calendar year in which the department begins accepting applications for the mental health professional loan repayment program, and by February 1 of each calendar year thereafter, this bill requires the department to submit an annual report to the governor, the chair of the education administration committee of the house of representatives, and the chair of the education committee of the senate detailing the number of professionals applying for and awarded grants pursuant to this bill, including information regarding the number of applicants and grant recipients identified by a mental health professional shortage area. RULEMAKING This bill authorizes the department to promulgate rules for the program's management and administration.