Chapter 608 Oregon Laws 2003

AN ACT

HB 2151

Relating to foreign physicians; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) The Physician Visa Waiver Program is established in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the program is to make recommendations to the United States Department of State for a waiver of the foreign country residency requirement on behalf of foreign physicians holding visas who seek employment in federally designated shortage areas.

(2) A foreign physician who has completed a residency in the United States may apply to the Department of Human Services for a recommendation for a waiver of the foreign country residency requirement in order to obtain employment in a federally designated shortage area in the state. Applications shall be on the forms of and contain the information requested by the department. Each application shall be accompanied by the application fee.

(3) The department reserves the right to recommend or decline to recommend any request for a waiver.

(4) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement and administer the program, including but not limited to adopting an application fee not to exceed the cost of administering the program.

SECTION 2. This 2003 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2003 Act takes effect on its passage.

Approved by the Governor July 25, 2003

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 25, 2003

Effective date July 25, 2003

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