A. In addition to internship and residency programs previously established and funded, it is the intent of the Legislature that the Health Care Workforce Training Commission, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, establish a Critical Need Internship and Residency Program. The purpose of the Program is to fund internship and residency programs across the state in areas of critical need. The determination of areas of critical need shall be made through a cooperative effort between the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. The findings shall be reported to the Commission by July 1, 2006, and every three (3) years thereafter.

B. The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine shall annually provide to the Commission a report outlining the areas of physician shortages in each specialty area. The report shall be the basis for the cooperative funding of critical need physician specialties for the current fiscal year.

C. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Health Care Workforce Training Commission to be designated the “Critical Need Internship and Residency Fund”. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Health Care Workforce Training Commission for funding internship and residency programs in areas of critical need. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Health Care Workforce Training Commission for such costs. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.