A. The department shall apply funds appropriated to the department from the nursing excellence program license renewal surcharge established pursuant to Subsection B of Section 61-3-10.5 NMSA 1978 exclusively for health professional loan repayment assistance for nurses in advanced practice who practice in areas that the department has designated as underserved.
B. Eligibility for loan repayment assistance pursuant to the provisions of Subsection A of this section shall not render nurses in advanced practice ineligible for loan repayment assistance pursuant to the Health Professional Loan Repayment Act that derives from any other source of funding.