SB203 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Paul Bussman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Board of Dental Scholarship Awards, Alabama Dental Service Program established, funding through Education Trust Fund provided, procedures for awarding loans provided, process for repaying by serving in medically underserved areas provided, Secs. 16-47-76 to 16-47-81, inclusive, am'd.
Summary: SB203 creates the Alabama Dental Service Program under the Board of Dental Scholarship Awards, funded by Education Trust Fund money, to provide loans and scholarships to dental students and require service in underserved Alabama areas to repay.
What This Bill Does
The bill establishes the Alabama Dental Service Program and assigns administration to the Board of Dental Scholarship Awards, with funding from the Education Trust Fund. It creates four types of financial aid for dental students and requires loan repayment through full-time dental work in medically underserved areas, with options for cash repayment plus interest or service-based repayment and a mandate to participate in Medicaid. It defines areas of critical need using HRSA guidelines, allows localities to be listed as need areas, and imposes penalties for breach of contract; it also directs annual reporting and has retroactive effect to September 30, 2005.

Who It Affects
Dental students and licensed dentists in Alabama who participate in the program and must repay loans or honors, subject to service and Medicaid requirements.
Communities in Alabama designated as areas of critical need and their residents, who may gain access to additional dental care as program participants fulfill service obligations.

Key Provisions
Establishes the Alabama Dental Service Program and funds it with direct appropriations from the Education Trust Fund.
Requires the Board of Dental Scholarship Awards to administer the program and to create the Rural Dental Health Scholars Program and the Rural Dental Scholars Program, with rules for implementation.
Provides four types of aid: loans equivalent to 20 percent of UA School of Dentistry student numbers, up to the annual in-state tuition (or four years), merit scholarships at 5 percent, and support for Rural Dental Health and Rural Dental Scholars programs.
Loans under the Alabama Dental Service Program may be repaid by cash with six percent interest or by service in specific Alabama areas of critical need for defined time periods, with Medicaid participation required for those repaying by service.
Defines areas of critical need using Dental Health Professional Shortage Area guidelines (HRSA) and allows adjustments to maintain program participation.
Imposes penalties for breach of contract that increase with the amount of loan funds received (20% to 50% for several years, up to 100% if breach occurs after graduation before repayment completion).
Allows municipalities with populations under 100,000 to apply to be on a list of localities in need of dentists, which influences where program participants may practice to repay loans.
Retroactive effect to September 30, 2005, with funds remaining at year end staying with the Board.
Requires participants to participate in the state Medicaid program as part of the repayment structure.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Colleges and Universities