1. (a) If there are not sufficient funds to offer loan repayment assistance for all eligible providers, then applications shall be ranked using priority determinations in the following order:

   1. (1) renewal applications;
   2. (2) applications from providers who sign SLRP contracts;
   3. (3) applications from providers who are not telehealth providers whose employers are located in an MHPSA, prioritizing higher MHPSA scores. If a provider works for an agency located in an MHPSA that has satellite clinics and the provider works in more than one of the clinics, travels to make home visits, or works for different employers in multiple MHPSAs having different degrees of shortage, the Coordinating Board will use the address certified by the applicant's employer to determine MHPSA score;
   4. (4) applications from providers in state hospitals, excluding telehealth providers;
   5. (5) applications from providers in a local mental health authority, excluding telehealth providers;
   6. (6) applications from providers in public schools, excluding telehealth providers;
   7. (7) applications from telehealth providers;
   8. (8) applications from providers who are not telehealth providers whose employers are located in counties with a population of less than 150,000 persons. In the case of a provider serving at multiple sites, the Coordinating Board will use the address certified by the applicant's employer to determine whether an applicant is serving in a county with a population of less than 150,000 persons;
   9. (9) applications from providers described by §23.96(b) of this subchapter (relating to Applicant Eligibility); and
   10. (10) applications received on the earliest dates.
2. (b) If state funds are not sufficient to allow for maximum loan repayment assistance amounts stated in §23.100 of this subchapter (relating to Amount of Repayment Assistance) for all eligible applicants described by subsection (b)(1) of this section, the Coordinating Board shall adjust in an equitable manner the state-funded distribution amounts for a fiscal year, in accordance with Texas Education Code, §61.607(d).

Source Note:The provisions of this §23.97 adopted to be effective November 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 7818; amended to be effective February 22, 2016, 41 TexReg 1232; transferred effective December 15, 2016, as published in the Texas Register November 25, 2016, 41 TexReg 9341; amended to be effective February 28, 2018, 43 TexReg 1088; amended to be effective May 22, 2019, 44 TexReg 2456; amended to be effective February 15, 2024, 49 TexReg 692; amended to be effective November 14, 2024, 49 TexReg 8906; amended to be effective November 13, 2025, 50 TexReg 7270; amended to be effective May 13, 2026, 51 TexReg 3110.