(a) Within the limits of appropriations for osteopathic medical service scholarships, and in accordance with the provisions of this section, the state board of regents may award such scholarships to Kansas residents who are undergraduate students enrolled in or admitted to accredited or pre-accredited schools of osteopathic medicine in a course of instruction leading to the degree of doctor of osteopathy and who enter into a written agreement with the state board of regents as provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-3266, and amendments thereto.

(b) Osteopathic medical service scholarships shall be in effect for the period of time specified in subsection (c) and shall provide to the person receiving the scholarship the payment of an amount not to exceed the maximum amount of a loan authorized to be made under the medical student loan act.

(c) Osteopathic medical service scholarships shall be awarded on an annual basis and shall be in effect for one year unless otherwise terminated before the expiration of such period of time. A Kansas resident who is an undergraduate student enrolled in or admitted to an accredited or pre-accredited school of osteopathic medicine in a course of instruction leading to the degree of doctor of osteopathy may be awarded a scholarship for each year the student enters into a written agreement with the state board of regents as provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-3266, and amendments thereto, up to a maximum of four years. For each year a student is awarded a scholarship, the student shall engage in the practice of medicine and surgery in Kansas for the period of time specified in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-3266(a)(3), and amendments thereto, unless such obligation is otherwise satisfied as provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-3268, and amendments thereto.

(d) The state board of regents shall not award more than 25 osteopathic medical service scholarships in any year to persons who have not previously been awarded such a scholarship and, in any case, the state board shall not award more than 80 such scholarships in any year. In selecting Kansas residents to be awarded osteopathic medical service scholarships, the state board shall give primary consideration to students commencing their first year of instruction at accredited or pre-accredited schools of osteopathic medicine and thereafter shall consider students in later years of instruction.