(a) The board shall award grants to graduate medical education programs to enable those programs to fill first-year residency positions that are accredited but unfilled as of July 1, 2013. The board shall determine the number of grants awarded and the amount of each grant consistent with any conditions provided by legislative appropriation.
(b) A grant received under this section must be expended to support:
(1) resident stipends and benefits; and
(2) other direct resident costs to the program.
(c) A grant application must include proof of the accredited but unfilled positions to which the application applies.
(d) The board may distribute a grant amount for a residency position only on receiving verification that the applicable residency position has been filled.
(e) Grant amounts are awarded under this section for the duration of the period in which the resident who initially fills the residency position continues to hold that position.