905

1. The commissioner in collaboration with the commissioner of education is authorized, within amounts available pursuant to subdivision nineteen-a of section twenty-eight hundred seven-c of this chapter, to make grants to colleges, universities or hospital-based training programs within New York state to establish or expand training programs for nurse practitioners, physician assistants or midwives, and to increase the opportunities for practitioner education in primary care at community-based sites. 2. Grant funds may be used for administration, faculty recruitment and development, start-up costs and costs incurred teaching primary care practitioners at community-based sites, including, but not limited to, personnel, administration and student related expenses and other expenses judged reasonable and necessary by the commissioner. 3. Grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis in amounts not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars through a request for application process. In making awards, the commissioner shall consider: (a) the need for primary care practitioners in the region in which the applicant is located; (b)

dollars through a request for application process. In making awards, the commissioner shall consider: (a) the need for primary care practitioners in the region in which the applicant is located; (b) the cost-effectiveness of the proposal; and (c) the applicant's commitment to place graduates in primary care settings and/or underserved areas. 4. The intent of the program is to augment or increase training programs for nurse practitioners, physician assistants and midwives. Grant funding shall not be used to offset existing expenditures the institution or program has obligated or intends to obligate for such training programs.