HF 3161

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/30/2022 01:05pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; directing the commissioner of health to modify a requirement
to obtain a Department of Health recommendation for the J-1 visa waiver program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH; J-1 VISA WAIVER
PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section:
new text end

new text begin (1) "Department of Health recommendation" means a recommendation from the state
Department of Health that a foreign medical graduate should be considered for a J-1 visa
waiver under the J-1 visa waiver program; and
new text end

new text begin (2) "J-1 visa waiver program" means a program administered by the United States
Department of State under United States Code, title 8, section 1184(l), in which a waiver
is sought for the requirement that a foreign medical graduate with a J-1 visa must return to
the graduate's home country for two years at the conclusion of the graduate's medical study
before applying for employment authorization in the United States.
new text end

new text begin (b) In administering the program to issue Department of Health recommendations for
purposes of the J-1 visa waiver program, the commissioner of health shall allow an applicant
to submit to the commissioner evidence that the foreign medical graduate for whom the
waiver is sought holds a current H-1B visa in place of evidence that the foreign medical
graduate has passed steps 1, 2, and 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination.
new text end