HB410 Alabama 2022 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Rod Scott
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2022
Title: Optometric Scholarship Awards Board, meetings conducted remotely, scholarship program expanded to include loans and revise program parameters, Secs. 34-22-60 to 34-22-65, inclusive, am'd.
Summary: HB410 expands the optometric scholarship program to include loans, creates a service-based repayment system to place more optometrists in underserved areas, and allows remote board meetings.
What This Bill Does
The bill adds loan options to the existing scholarships to fund optometry training and to encourage service in underserved parts of Alabama. It creates the Alabama Optometric Service Program to issue loans and sets repayment through either cash after graduation or service in designated areas, with various timelines and forgiveness tied to locations and patient populations. It also requires regular calculation of an Optometric Shortage Index, designates localities in need of optometrists, strengthens enforcement for loan breaches, and allows remote participation in board meetings.

Who It Affects
Alabama residents who are applying for or receiving optometry scholarships or loans (and those who would participate in the Alabama Optometric Service Program), who must follow repayment terms that may involve service in underserved areas.
Communities and localities identified as areas of critical need or listed as needing additional optometrists, which would gain access to more practicing optometrists as loan recipients fulfill service requirements.

Key Provisions
Board meetings may be held remotely; participating by telephone or video counts as presence and a quorum can be met with 50% of board members.
The program creates three funding paths: (a) annual loans (up to 25% of enrolled students and up to 30% of tuition, prioritizing UAB) and (b) merit scholarships (up to 25% of students) plus (c) loans through the Alabama Optometric Service Program equal to four-year attendance costs for eligible students.
An Optometric Shortage Index must be calculated at least every two years by geographic area to identify areas needing more optometrists, guiding loan service requirements and locality designations.
Repayment options include: full cash repayment after graduation with board-set terms and interest, or service-based repayment in defined Alabama communities (four-year or five-year periods depending on area) with potential partial forgiveness for part-time service and additional credits if patients are indigent or covered by Medicaid.
There are strong consequences for breach of contract, including a penalty of up to 100% of the remaining loan balance and possible license revocation, with enforcement by the Attorney General and other specified processes.
The program designates localities under 100,000 population as areas needing optometrists and allows recipients to practice in those areas to satisfy repayment obligations.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Optometric Scholarship Awards, Board of