N.J. Stat. § 18A:71C-40: Selection of participants; priority.

The executive director or a designee shall select the program participants from among those applicants who meet the eligibility criteria established pursuant to N.J.S.18A:71C-34, subject to available funds and available approved sites, as applicable. In the event that there are insufficient funds or approved sites to select all of the applicants who meet the eligibility criteria, the executive director or a designee shall accord priority to applicants in the following manner:

a. first, to any applicant who is employed by or has an offer of employment at an approved site;

b. second, to any applicant according to the severity of the health care provider shortage in the area selected by the applicant;

c. third, to any applicant whose residence in the State at any time prior to initiating an application was within a State-designated underserved area ;

d. fourth, to any applicant whose approved site is a community-based ambulatory healthcare practice, which includes practices operated by a private entity that provide comprehensive pediatric care, behavioral health care, preventative care, or primary care health services;

e. fifth, to any applicant whose approved site is a hospital-affiliated practice or clinic that provides comprehensive pediatric care, behavioral health care, preventative care, or primary care services; and

f. sixth, to any applicant who graduated from a high school or institution of higher education in the State or completed a medical residency in the State.

In the event that there are more applicants who have the same priority than there are program positions, the executive director or a designee shall select program participants by means of a lottery or other form of random selection.

Amended 2009, c.145, s.9; 2025, c.345, s.11.