,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bgdg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #cj1 #bjai,mr4 ,casey 7for himself and ,ms4 ,murkowski7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend title ,,vii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act to authorize assistance for increasing workforce diversity in the professions of physical therapy1 occupational therapy1 audiology1 and speech-language pathology1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,allied ,health ,workforce ,diversity ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,increasing workforce diversity in the professions of physical therapy1 occupational therapy1 audiology1 and speech-language pathology ,title ,,vii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating part ,g 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bie;j et seq47 as part ,h2 and 7#b7 by inserting after part ,f 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bidn et seq47 the following new part3 ,g ,increasing workforce diversity in the professions of physical therapy1 occupational therapy1 audiology1 and speech-language pathology #ghc4 ,scholarships and stipends 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may award grants and contracts to eligible entities to increase educational opportunities in the professions of physical therapy1 occupational therapy1 audiology1 and speech-language pathology for eligible individuals by-- 7#a7 providing student scholarships or stipends1 including for-- 7,a7 completion of an accelerated degree program2 7,b7 completion of an associate's1 bachelor's1 master's1 or doctoral degree program2 and 7,c7 entry by a diploma or associate's degree practitioner into a bridge or degree completion program2 7#b7 providing assistance for completion of prerequisite courses or other preparation necessary for acceptance for enrollment in the eligible entity2 and 7#c7 carrying out activities to increase the retention of students in one or more programs in the professions of physical therapy1 occupational therapy1 audiology1 and speech-language pathology4 7b7 ,consideration of recommendations ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of national organizations representing the professions of physical therapy1 occupational therapy1 audiology1 and speech-language pathology1 including the ,american ,physical ,therapy ,association1 the ,american ,occupational ,therapy ,association1 the ,american ,speech-,language-,hearing ,association1 the ,american ,academy of ,audiology1 and the ,academy of ,doctors of ,audiology4 7c7 ,required information and conditions for award recipients 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may require recipients of awards under this section to report to the ,secretary concerning the annual admission1 retention1 and graduation rates for eligible individuals in programs of the recipient leading to a degree in any of the professions of physical therapy1 occupational therapy1 audiology1 and speech-language pathology4 7#b7 ,falling rates ,if any of the rates reported by a recipient under paragraph 7#a7 fall below the average for such recipient over the two years preceding the year covered by the report1 the recipient shall provide the ,secretary with plans for immediately improving such rates4 7#c7 ,ineligibility ,a recipient described in paragraph 7#b7 shall be ineligible for continued funding under this section if the plan of the recipient fails to improve the rates within the #a-year period beginning on the date such plan is implemented4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entities ,the term eligible entity means an education program that-- 7,a7 is accredited by-- 7i7 the ,council on ,academic ,accreditation in ,audiology and ,speech-,language ,pathology or the ,accreditation ,commission for ,audiology ,education2 7ii7 the ,commission on ,accreditation in ,physical ,therapy ,education2 or 7iii7 the ,accreditation ,council for ,occupational ,therapy ,education2 and 7,b7 is carrying out a program for recruiting and retaining students underrepresented in the professions of physical therapy1 occupational therapy1 audiology1 and speech-language pathology 7including racial or ethnic minorities1 or students from disadvantaged backgrounds74 7#b7 ,eligible individual ,the term eligible individual means an individual who-- 7,a7 is a member of a class of persons who are underrepresented in the professions of physical therapy1 occupational therapy1 audiology1 and speech-language pathology 7including individuals who are racial or ethnic minorities1 individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds1 or individuals with a disability 7as defined in section #c7a7 of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij1 or who have an individualized education program1 as defined in section #fjb of the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act1 are covered under section #ejd of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc1 or have other documentation establishing the student's disability 7as such term is defined in section #c of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij7772 7,b7 has a financial need for a scholarship or stipend2 and 7,c7 is enrolled 7or accepted for enrollment7 at an audiology1 speech-language pathology1 physical therapy1 or occupational therapy program as a full-time student at an eligible entity4 7e7 ,supplement not supplant ,funds awarded under this section shall be used to supplement1 and not supplant1 other funds available to carry out the activities described in this section4 7f7 ,authorization of ,appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #e1jjj1jjj for the first fiscal year commencing after the date of enactment of the ,allied ,health ,workforce ,diversity ,act of #bjai and each of the #d succeeding fiscal years4 4