,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #afhe  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,m>* #ab1 #bjai,ms4   
,bass introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,education &  
,labor  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,high]    
,education ,act ( #aife to improve      
education opportunities = physician     
assi/ants1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort 
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !         
,physician ,assi/ant ,high] ,education  
,mod]nization ,act ( #bjai4  #b4        
,in/itut+ ,borr[+ ,p>ity = physician    
assi/ant /ud5ts "u ! ,f$]al ,direct     
,loan ,program  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section   
#dee ( ! ,high] ,education ,act ( #aife 
7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhg;e7 is am5d$ by add+
 at ! end ! foll[+3  7r7 ,in/itut+      
,borr[+ ,p>ity = physician assi/ant     
/ud5ts ,not)/&+ section                 
#dbh;,h7d77#b77;,a71 ! maximum annual   
am\nt ( ,f$]al ,direct ,unsubsidiz$     
,/af=d ,loans t a graduate /ud5t 9 a    
physician assi/ant education program 7z 
def9$ 9 section #gii;,b ( ! ,public     

,heal? ,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4      
#biep77 may borr[ 9 any academic ye> 7z 
def9$ 9 section #dha7;a77#b77 or its    
equival5t %all be--  7#a7 #dj1jjj 9 !   
fir/ academic ye> ( su* program2  7#b7  
#dj1jjj 9 ! second academic ye> ( su*   
program2 &  7#c7 #ae1jjj 9 ! ?ird       
academic ye> ( su* program4  4  7b7     
,effective date ,! am5dm5t made by ?is  
section %all apply ) respect to aw>d    
ye>s beg9n+ m ?an #fj days aft] ! date (
 enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #c4 ,mak+        
physician assi/ants eligible = inc5tives
 :5 s]v+ z prim>y c>e provid]s or       
faculty memb]s  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section   
#dbh,k ( ! ,high] ,education ,act (     
#aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgh-aa7 is       
am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection 7b71 by add+  
at ! end ! foll[+3  7#ai7 ,physician    
assi/ants ,! individual is a physician  
assi/ant employ$ full-"t-- 7,a7 z a     
physician assi/ant 9 a cl9ical sett+    
provid+ prim>y c>e s]vices2 or  7,b7 z a
 memb] ( ! physician assi/ant faculty at
 a physician assi/ant education program 

7z def9$ 9 section #gii;,b ( ! ,public  
,heal? ,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4      
#biep774  2  7#b7 9 subsection 7g71 by  
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#aa7          
,physician assi/ant ,! t]m physician    
assi/ant means an individual :o--  7,a7 
graduat$ f a physician assi/ant         
education program 7z def9$ 9 section    
#gii;,b ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep772  7,b7 is c]tifi$
 z a physician assi/ant by ! ,national  
,commission on ! ,c]tification (        
,physician ,assi/ants or any successor  
organization2 &  7,c7 ei!r-- 7i7 holds a
 valid & unre/rict$ lic5se to practice  
m$ic9e z a physician assi/ant 9 ! ,/ate 
9 :i* ! physician assi/ant practices 9 a
 cl9ical sett+2 or  7ii7 is qualifi$ =  
lic5sure 9 ! ,/ate :]e ! individual is  
employ$ z a full-"t physician assi/ant  
faculty memb] ( a physician assi/ant    
education program 7z def9$ 9 section    
#gii;,b ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep774  2 &  7#c7 9    
subsection 7h71 by /rik+ fiscal ye>     

#bjji & ins]t+ fiscal ye> #bjbj4  7b7   
,effective date ,! am5dm5ts made by ?is 
section %all apply ) respect to         
employm5t occurr+ on or aft] ! date ( ! 
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #d4 ,grants =     
physician assi/ant programs at          
hi/orically black colleges & univ]sities
 & pr$om9antly black in/itutions  7a7   
,hi/orically black colleges &           
univ]sities ,section #gbc ( ! ,high]    
,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#aacf;a7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection   
7a77#a71 by ins]t+ physician assi/ant   
/udies1 aft] alli$ heal?12  7#b7 9      
subsection 7b77#b77;,a71 by ins]t+      
physician assi/ant /udies1 aft] alli$   
heal?12 &  7#c7 9 subsection 7d7--  7,a7
 9 p>agraph 7#d71 by ins]t+ physician   
assi/ant /udies1 aft] alli$ heal?12     
7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#aa71 by /rik+ & at !  
end2  7,c7 by r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#ab7 
z p>agraph 7#ac72 &  7,d7 by ins]t+ aft]
 p>agraph 7#aa7 ! foll[+3  7#ab7 9 !    
case ( a grant = a physician assi/ant   
education program 7z def9$ 9 section    

#gii;,b ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep77--  7,a7 creat+ or
 improv+ facilities = ,int]net or o!r   
di/ance education te*nologies1 includ+  
pur*ase or r5tal ( telecommunications   
te*nology equipm5t or s]vices2 &  7,b7  
collaborat+ ) o!r in/itutions ( high]   
education to exp& po/baccalaureate      
degree (f]+s2 &  4  7b7 ,pr$om9antly    
black in/itutions ,section #gbd ( !     
,high] ,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj     
,u4,s4,c4 #aacf;b7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9    
subsection 7a77#a71 by ins]t+ physician 
assi/ant /udies1 aft] alli$ heal?12     
7#b7 9 subsection 7b77#b77;,a71 by      
ins]t+ physician assi/ant /udies1 aft]  
alli$ heal?12 &  7#c7 9 subsection 7d7--
  7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#d71 by ins]t+       
physician assi/ant /udies1 aft] alli$   
heal?12  7,b7 by r$esignat+ p>agraph    
7#ab7 z p>agraph 7#ac72 &  7,c7 by      
ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#aa7 ! foll[+3    
7#ab7 9 ! case ( a grant = a physician  
assi/ant education program 7z def9$ 9   
section #gii;,b ( ! ,public ,heal?      

,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep77--   
7,a7 creat+ or improv+ facilities =     
,int]net or o!r di/ance education       
te*nologies1 includ+ pur*ase or r5tal ( 
telecommunications te*nology equipm5t or
 s]vices2 &  7,b7 collaborat+ ) o!r     
in/itutions ( high] education to exp&   
po/baccalaureate degree (f]+s2 &  4  7c7
 ,ext5sion ( au?orization (             
appropriations ,subsections 7a7 & 7b7 ( 
section #gbe ( ! ,high] ,education ,act 
( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aacf;c7 are ea* 
am5d$ by /rik+ fiscal ye> #bjji & ins]t+
 fiscal ye> #bjbj4  #e4 ,physician      
assi/ant po/baccalaureate opportunities 
= ,hispanic ,am]icans  7a7 ,9 g5]al     
,section #ead ( ! ,high] ,education ,act
 ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aajb;c7 is     
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7d7   
,priority = physician assi/ant education
 programs ,! ,secret>y %all give        
pref]5ce to an application by an        
eligible in/itution = a grant "u ?is "p 
t demon/rates t ! grant funds aw>d$ "u  
?is "p w be us$ to support physician    

assi/ant education programs 7z def9$ 9  
section #gii;,b ( ! ,public ,heal?      
,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep774  4 
7b7 ,ext5sion ( au?orization (          
appropriations ,section #ebh7;a77#b7 ( !
 ,high] ,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj    
,u4,s4,c4 #aajc;g7a77#b77 is am5d$--    
7#a7 by /rik+ #ajj1jjj1jjj = fiscal ye> 
#bjji &2 &  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] su* sums
 z may be necess>y = ! foll[+3 fiscal   
ye> #bjbj &4  #f4 ,grants to rural s]v+ 
in/itutions ( high] education =         
physician assi/ant education programs   
,"p ,q ( title ,,viii ( ! ,high]        
,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#aafaq7 is am5d$--  7#a7 9 section      
#hfa7;b71 by /rik+ ,= ! purposes ( ?is  
section & ins]t+ ,= ! purposes ( ?is "p2
 &  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] section #hfa !  
foll[+3  #hfb4 ,grants to support !     
developm5t & expansion ( physician      
assi/ant education programs at          
rural-s]v+ in/itutions ( high] education
  7a7 ,grants  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!         
,secret>y is au?oriz$ to aw>d grants on 

a competitive basis to a rural-s]v+     
in/itution ( high] education or a       
consortium ( su* in/itutions--  7,a7 to 
increase1 = /ud5ts f rural areas1       
enrollm5t & graduation rates =          
po/baccalaureate physician assi/ant     
education programs2 &  7,b7 to tra9     
physician assi/ants 9 rural areas ?r\gh 
! developm5t ( new physician assi/ant   
education programs & ! expansion ( exi/+
 physician assi/ant education programs 9
 rural areas4  7#b7 ,duration ,a grant  
aw>d$ "u ?is section %all be aw>d$ = a  
p]iod ( n long] ?an #c ye>s4  7#c7      
,limitations ,a rural-s]v+ in/itution ( 
high] education or a consortium ( su*   
in/itutions %all n receive m ?an "o     
grant "u ?is section4  7b7 ,applications
  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,ea* rural-s]v+         
in/itution ( high] education or         
consortium ( su* in/itutions desir+ a   
grant "u ?is section %all submit to !   
,secret>y an application at su* "t1 9   
su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z !  
,secret>y may require4  7#b7 ,priority  

,9 aw>d+ grants "u ?is section1 !       
,secret>y %all give priority to         
applications t demon/rate ! mo/ pot5tial
 & propose ! mo/ promis+ & innovative   
approa*es =--  7,a7 creat+ new physician
 assi/ant education programs 9 rural    
areas2  7,b7 increas+ ! numb] (         
physician assi/ants t practice m$ic9e 9 
rural areas2  7,c7 meet+ ! employm5t    
ne$s ( regional employ]s ( physician    
assi/ants ) graduates ( physician       
assi/ant education programs at          
rural-s]v+ in/itutions ( high]          
education2 &  7,d7 improv+ ! heal? (    
,am]icans resid+ 9 rural areas4  7c7    
,use ( funds ,a rural-s]v+ in/itution ( 
high] education or consortium ( su*     
in/itutions t receives a grant "u ?is   
section %all use grant funds = !        
e/abli%m5t & expansion ( physician      
assi/ant education programs 9 rural     
areas4  7d7 ,physician assi/ant         
education program ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m 
physician assi/ant education program has
 ! mean+ giv5 to su* t]m 9 section      

#gii;,b ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep74  7e7             
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re are 
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry out  
?is section su* sums z may be necess>y =
 fiscal ye> #bjbj & ea* ( ! five succe$+
 fiscal ye>s4  4  #g4 ,improv+ physician
 assi/ant education programs ,title     
,,viii ( ! ,high] ,education ,act (     
#aife is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] section   
#hih 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aafa;aa-#a7 !      
foll[+3  ,,bb ,physician assi/ant       
education enhancem5t  #hii4             
,demon/ration program to support        
physician assi/ant faculty prep>ation   
7a7 ,grants  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y 
%all provide grants to n m ?an #aj      
in/itutions ( high] education to        
develop1 exp&1 & support graduate-level 
programs to prep>e c]tifi$ physician    
assi/ants to become physician assi/ant  
faculty memb]s 9 accr$it$ graduate-level
 physician assi/ant education programs  
?r\gh collaboration betwe5 su* a program
 & an in/itution ( high] education t    

aw>ds a graduate degree 9 education4    
7#b7 ,cap ,no in/itution ( high]        
education may receive m ?an an aggregate
 ( #fjj1jjj "u ?is section dur+ fiscal  
ye>s #bjbj1 #bjba1 & #bjbb4  7b7        
,application  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,an         
in/itution ( high] education desir+ a   
grant "u ?is section %all submit to !   
,secret>y1 at su* "t & 9 su* mann] z !  
,secret>y may require1 an application   
includ+--  7,a7 a description ( ! int5d$
 collaboration to develop1 exp&1 &      
support graduate-level programs to      
prep>e c]tifi$ physician assi/ants to   
become physician assi/ant faculty memb]s
 9 accr$it$ graduate-level physician    
assi/ant education programs2 &  7,b7 an 
e/imate ( ! numb] ( /ud5ts :o w be      
affect$ by su* collaboration4  7#b7     
,priority ,! ,secret>y %all give        
priority to applications t demon/rate ! 
pot5tial to maximize quality in/ruction 
?r\gh ! use ( te*nology4  7c7 ,report ,n
 lat] ?an #ah mon?s aft] ! date ( ! fir/
 grant "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all 

submit to ,congress a report t--  7#a7  
describes ! /eps tak5 to implem5t ?is   
section2 &  7#b7 li/s all recipi5ts (   
grants "u ?is section z ( ! date ( su*  
submission4  7d7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is     
section3 7#a7 ,in/itution ( high]       
education ,! t]m in/itution ( high]     
education has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9    
section #aja4  7#b7 ,physician assi/ant 
education program ,! t]m physician      
assi/ant education program has ! mean+  
giv5 su* t]m 9 section #gii;,b ( !      
,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #biep74  7e7 ,au?orization (  
appropriations ,!re are au?oriz$ to be  
appropriat$ su* sums z may be necess>y  
to c>ry out ?is section = fiscal ye>s   
#bjbj ?r\gh #bjbb4  #hii;,a4 ,grants =  
infra/ructure & te*nology improvem5ts 9 
physician assi/ant education programs   
7a7 ,grants  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y 
is au?oriz$ to aw>d grants1 on a        
competitive basis1 to n m ?an #bj       
physician assi/ant education programs to
 enhance physician assi/ant education   

programs & improve pati5t safety by     
support+ ! pur*ase ( new infra/ructure &
 te*nology4  7#b7 ,duration ,a grant    
aw>d$ "u ?is section %all be aw>d$ = a  
p]iod ( n long] ?an five ye>s4  7b7     
,application  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a physician
 assi/ant education program may apply = 
a grant "u ?is section by submitt+ an   
application to ! ,secret>y at su* "t & 9
 su* mann] z ! ,secret>y may require t  
demon/rates h[ ! grant funds w be us$ to
 improve physician assi/ant education   
programs & pati5t safety ) respect to   
su* programs4  7#b7 ,priority ,9 aw>d+  
grants "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all 
give priority to applications t         
demon/rate ! pot5tial to--  7,a7        
increase ! numb] ( physician assi/ant   
graduates2 &  7,b7 maximize             
accessibility to new & em]g+            
te*nologies1 includ+ human pati5t       
simulators = physician assi/ant         
education programs1 ?r\gh p>tn]%ips     
betwe5 ! grant recipi5t & o!r           
in/itutions ( high] education4  7c7 ,use

 ( funds ,a physician assi/ant education
 program t receives a grant aw>d$ "u ?is
 section may use ! grant = "o or m ( !  
foll[+ purposes3  7#a7 ,pur*ase1 r5tal1 
or lease ( sci5tific1 m$ical or         
laboratory equipm5t1 includ+ human      
pati5t simulators & o!r new & em]g+     
te*nologies1 = education purposes1      
includ+ in/ructional & rese>* purposes4 
7#b7 ,con/ruction1 ma9t5ance &          
r5ovation1 & improvem5t ( classrooms1   
libr>ies1 laboratories1 & o!r           
in/ructional facilities1 includ+ pur*ase
 or r5tal ( telecommunications te*nology
 equipm5t or s]vices4  7#c7 ,support+   
faculty tra9+ 9 ! use ( new & em]g+     
te*nologies1 includ+ human pati5t       
simulators4  7#d7 ,o!r activities       
propos$ 9 ! application submitt$        
pursuant to subsection 7b7 t-- 7,a7     
contribute to c>ry+ out ! purposes ( ?is
 section2 &  7,b7 are approv$ by !      
,secret>y z "p ( ! review & acceptance (
 su* application4  7d7 ,def9itions ,9   
?is section3  7#a7 ,physician assi/ant  

education program ,! t]m physician      
assi/ant education program has ! mean+  
giv5 su* t]m 9 section #gii;,b ( !      
,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #biep74  7#b7 ,human pati5t   
simulator ,! t]m human pati5t simulator 
means a comput]iz$ device t is          
anatomically precise & responds         
physiologically to int]v5tions4  7e7    
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re are 
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry out  
?is section su* sums z may be necess>y =
 fiscal ye> #bjbj & ea* ( ! five succe$+
 fiscal ye>s4  4