(c) The guidelines shall meet all of the following criteria:

1. (1) Provide priority consideration to applicants that are best suited to meet the cultural and linguistic needs and demands of patients from medically underserved populations and who meet one or more of the following criteria:

   1. (A) Speak a Medi-Cal threshold language.
   2. (B) Come from an economically disadvantaged background.
   3. (C) Have received significant training in cultural and linguistically appropriate service delivery.
   4. (D) Have three years of experience providing health care services to medically underserved populations or in a medically underserved area, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 128552.
   5. (E) Have recently obtained a license to practice medicine.
2. (2) Give preference to applicants who have completed a three-year residency in a primary specialty.
3. (3) Give preference to applicants who agree to practice in a medically underserved area, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 128552, and who agree to serve a medically underserved population, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 128552.
4. (4) Give priority consideration to applicants from rural communities.
5. (5) Include a factor ensuring geographic distribution of placements.
6. (6) Provide priority consideration to applicants who agree to practice in a geriatric care setting and are trained in geriatrics, and who can meet the cultural and linguistic needs and demands of a diverse population of older Californians. On and after January 1, 2009, up to 15 percent of the funds collected pursuant to Section 2436.5 of the Business and Professions Code shall be dedicated to loan assistance for physicians and surgeons who agree to practice in geriatric care settings or settings that primarily serve adults over the age of 65 years or adults with disabilities.

(d)

1. (1) The department may award up to 20 percent of the available positions established with funds from the account to program applicants from specialties outside of the primary specialties.
2. (2) The department may, consistent with this article, create additional positions for program applicants from specialties outside of primary specialties using funds separate from the account, and not subject to paragraph (1).

(e) Program participants shall meet all of the following requirements:

1. (1) Shall be working in or have a signed agreement with an eligible practice setting, as defined by the department.
2. (2) Shall have full-time status at the practice setting. Full-time status shall be defined by the department and the department may establish exemptions from this requirement on a case-by-case basis.
3. (3) Shall commit to a minimum of two years of service in a medically underserved area or a practice setting serving populations in need, as defined by the department. Leaves of absence shall be permitted for serious illness, pregnancy, or other natural causes. The department shall develop the process for determining the maximum permissible length of an absence and the process for reinstatement. Loan repayment shall be deferred until the physician is back to full-time status.