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 § 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 "underserved area" shall include those underserved areas designated by the Board pursuant to § 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.

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