(a) Except as otherwise specified in the agreement, an obligation under any agreement entered into in accordance with the Kansas ethnic minority fellowship program shall be postponed: (1) During any required period of active military service; (2) during any period of service as a part of volunteers in service to America (VISTA); (3) during any period of service in the peace corps; (4) during any period of service commitment to the United States public health service; (5) during any period of religious missionary work conducted by an organization exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code as in effect on December 31, 2000; (6) during any period of time in which the person obligated is unable because of temporary medical disability to commence or continue performance in satisfaction of the obligation; (7) during any period of time the person obligated is enrolled and actively engaged on a full-time basis in a graduate program leading to a degree which is higher than that formerly attained; (8) during any period of time the person obligated is on job-protected leave under the federal family and medical leave act of 1993; or (9) during any period of time the state board of regents determines that the person obligated is unable because of special circumstances to commence or continue performance in satisfaction of the obligation. Except for clauses (6), (8) and (9), an obligation under any agreement entered into in accordance with the Kansas ethnic minority fellowship program shall not be postponed more than five years from the time performance of the obligation was to have been commenced under any such agreement. An obligation under any agreement entered into in accordance with the program shall be postponed under clause (6) during the period of time the medical disability exists. An obligation under any agreement entered into in accordance with the program shall be postponed under clause (8) during the period of time the person obligated remains on FMLA leave. An obligation to commence or continue performance in satisfaction of the obligation in accordance with an agreement under the Kansas ethnic minority fellowship program shall be postponed under clause (9) during the period of time the state board of regents determines that the special circumstances exist. The state board of regents shall adopt rules and regulations prescribing criteria or guidelines for determination of the existence of special circumstances causing an inability to commence or continue performance in satisfaction of the obligation, and shall determine the documentation required to prove the existence of such circumstances.

(b) An obligation under any agreement entered into in accordance with the Kansas ethnic minority fellowship program shall be satisfied: (1) If performance of the obligation has been completed in accordance with the agreement; (2) if the person obligated dies; (3) if, because of permanent physical disability, the person obligated is unable to satisfy the obligation; (4) if the person obligated fails to satisfy the requirements of the graduate program in which enrolled after making the best effort possible; (5) if the person obligated fails to satisfy all requirements for certification to teach in Kansas, if certification is necessary to obtain employment as provided in the agreement; or (6) if the person obligated is unable to obtain employment in an accredited elementary or secondary school or an accredited institution of postsecondary education in Kansas and to continue in such employment after making the best effort possible.