                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CONDITIONAL GRANTS FOR CERTAIN DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENTS (§ 32.1-122.10)

A. The Board of Health shall establish annual dental hygiene scholarships for
students who intend to enter an accredited dental hygiene program in the
Commonwealth. The amounts and numbers of such scholarships shall be determined
annually as provided in the appropriation act. The Commissioner shall act as
fiscal agent for the Board in administration of the scholarship program.

B. To administer the scholarship program, the Board shall promulgate regulations
which shall include, but are not limited to:

   1. Qualifications of applicants;

   2. Criteria for award of the scholarship to assure that a recipient will
   fulfill the practice obligations established in this section;

   3. Standards to assure that these scholarships increase access to dental
   hygiene care for individuals who are indigent or who are recipients of public
   assistance;

   4. Assurances that residents of Virginia, as determined by &#xA7; 23.1-502,
   students of economically disadvantaged backgrounds and residents of medically
   underserved areas are given preference in determining scholarship eligibility
   and awards;

   5. Assurances that a scholarship recipient will practice as a dental hygienist
   in an underserved area of the Commonwealth within two years following
   completion of training;

   6. Methods for reimbursement to the Commonwealth by a recipient who fails to
   complete the educational program or who fails to honor the obligation to
   engage in practice as a dental hygienist for a period of years equal to the
   number of annual scholarships received;

   7. Procedures for reimbursing any recipient who has repaid the Commonwealth
   for part or all of any scholarship and who later fulfills the terms of his
   contract; and

   8. Methods for reporting data related to the recipients of the scholarships.

C. For purposes of this section, the term &#8220;underserved area&#8221; shall
include those underserved areas designated by the Board pursuant to &#xA7;
32.1-122.5 and dental health professional shortage areas designated in
accordance with the criteria established in 42 C.F.R. Part 5.

D. Any scholarship amounts repaid by recipients pursuant to subdivision B 6, and
any interest thereon, shall be used only for the purposes of this section and
shall not revert to the general fund.

HISTORY: 1994, c. 867; 2000, c. 926; 2001, c. 188.