HB413 Alabama 2022 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Rod Scott
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2022
Title: Dental Scholarship and Loan Awards Board, named, membership and meetings, eliminates Rural Dental Scholars Program, board authorized to make loans for furthering dental education, Secs. 16-47-76, 16-47-77, 16-47-78, 16-47-79, 16-47-80, 16-47-81 am'd.
Summary: HB413 restructures Alabama's dental-education financing by renaming and empowering the board, expanding scholarships and loans, and tying repayment to service in underserved areas.
What This Bill Does
The bill renames the Board of Dental Scholarship Awards to the Board of Dental Scholarship and Loan Awards, authorizes it to issue loans and scholarships for dental education, creates new Rural Dental Health and Rural Dental Scholars programs, and establishes the Alabama Dental Service Program with service-based repayment. It also sets repayment terms, area eligibility rules, and reporting requirements, and it outlines penalties for failing to meet contract terms. It designates funding from the Education Trust Fund and requires the board to follow diversity goals and rules.

Who It Affects
Prospective and current Alabama dental students and residents who may receive scholarships or loans and must meet contract terms for repayment.
Communities in Alabama designated as areas of critical need or underserved, which would benefit from loan repayment programs encouraging dentists to practice there.

Key Provisions
Renamed board to Board of Dental Scholarship and Loan Awards with a diverse, representative membership and rules for governance and reporting.
Authorized four types of financial aid: (a) student loans up to tuition-year costs (or four times over four years) based on need; (b) merit scholarships up to five percent of UA School of Dentistry enrollment; (c) loans and scholarships for the Rural Dental Health Scholars Program; (d) loans and reimbursements for the Rural Dental Scholars Program.
Established the Alabama Dental Service Program, offering loans to students in exchange for service in Alabama dental schools or training programs, with repayment tied to remaining cost of attendance.
Repayment terms include 6% interest, annual payments starting after graduation, and various service-based pathways (years of practice in specific types of communities or public health roles) with deadlines and forgiveness options.
Areas of critical need are defined by the Dental Shortage Index and rules govern where recipients may practice, with some options for part-time service leading to full loan forgiveness.
Penalties for breach of contract are steep (up to 100% of loan principal plus additional penalties by year of loan), and default proceedings can revoke dental licenses.
Funding comes from the Education Trust Fund, with unspent funds retained by the board; retroactive provisions apply to prior appropriations.

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