(410 ILCS 65/5.5)

Sec. 5.5. Rural/Downstate Health Access Fund.

(a) The Rural/Downstate Health Access Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys from fees and gifts, grants, or donations made to the Center for Rural Health shall be deposited into the Fund. Subject to appropriation and except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section, moneys in the Fund shall be used in the following manner for rural health programs or for programs for the medically underserved authorized under this Act: 60.2% shall be distributed to the Department of Public Health, 26.3% shall be distributed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, and 13.5% shall be distributed to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

(b) The Center for Rural Health at the Department of Public Health may require that a J-1 Visa Waiver Program application fee be collected from international medical graduates for the purpose of administering the Program. J-1 Visa Waiver Program application fees shall be deposited into the Rural/Downstate Health Access Fund, shall be dedicated to the administration of the J-1 Visa Waiver Program in Illinois, and may not be subject to the distribution formula referenced in subsection (a) of this Section.

(c) The Center for Rural Health shall administer the Fund.

(d) The Department shall adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 98-1006, eff. 1-1-15.)