(a) (1) A program applicant shall possess a current valid license to practice dentistry in this state issued by the board pursuant to Section 1626, or be currently eligible for graduation from a predoctoral or postdoctoral dental education program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or the board and meet all criteria for licensure, subject to successful completion of applicable education and examination requirements.

(2) An applicant shall submit a completed application provided by the board that shall include, but is not limited to, documentation detailing current loan obligations from any government or commercial lender obtained for purposes of financing tuition or fees at a dental school approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or the board. Documentation shall contain the applicant’s account number and the lender’s contact information, as well as current balance owing and monthly installment plan details, if applicable.

(3) An application shall include disclosure of any and all obligations for which the applicant has defaulted or been subject to a judgment lien within the last 10 years, and explanations for each default or judgment lien disclosed.

(4) An applicant, if selected to receive a repayment grant, shall sign an agreement with the board to maintain qualified employment for 36 months continuously, and that the qualified employment meets or once commenced will meet the minimum requirements of the program regarding practice setting, and clinical hours worked.

(5) An applicant shall also agree to provide an annual progress report, signed by both the applicant and employer or employer’s designee. A progress report shall verify the practice setting’s qualified status, clinical hours worked by the applicant, number of patients treated, specific treatment rendered and its value, and patient’s payer source.

(b) The board, in selecting a participant for the program, shall give priority consideration to an applicant who is best suited to meet the cultural and linguistic needs and demands of dentally underserved populations by demonstrating experience in one or more of the following areas:

(1) Speaks one or more Medi-Cal threshold languages.

(2) Comes from an economically disadvantaged background with economic, social, or other circumstances.

(3) Has worked in a health field in an underserved area or with an underserved population.

(4) Is a dentist specialist recognized by the American Dental Association or has met all eligibility requirements to graduate from a dental specialty residency program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

(5) Has completed an extramural program or rotation during dental school or postgraduate education in which the applicant provided services to a population that speaks any Medi-Cal threshold language.

(c) The practice setting shall meet one or both of the following criteria:

(1) The practice setting shall be located in a dentally underserved area.

(2) The practice setting shall ensure that the program participant serves a patient population that consists of at least 50 percent dentally underserved populations.

(d) A program applicant shall be working in, or have a signed agreement for future employment with, an eligible practice setting. The program participant shall be employed on a full-time basis. “Full-time basis” means 30 hours of clinical hands-on care per week, for no less than 45 weeks per year, except as provided for during customary holidays, personal or family illness, and vacation time as described in a separate employment agreement between the recipient and the practice setting. Upon 30-day notice to the board, the board shall grant an extended leave of absence period for serious illness, pregnancy, or other natural cause. The board may establish other exemptions to the minimum time requirements of this subdivision on a case-by-case basis.

(e) A program participant shall commit to a minimum of three years of service in one or more eligible practice settings. Loan repayment or grant disbursement shall be deferred until the dentist is employed on a full-time basis.

(f) The board may coordinate with local and statewide trade and professional dental organizations, as well as educational institutions, for outreach to potentially eligible applicants.

(g) The board shall develop a process for a program participant’s repayment of loans or grants disbursed in the event that the participant is terminated prior to completion of, or is otherwise unable to complete, his or her three years of service obligation. Cause for termination includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Recipient’s termination of full-time, qualified employment.

(2) Recipient’s failure to maintain his or her professional license in good standing.

(3) Recipient’s failure to comply with any other term or condition of this article.

(h) The board may adopt any other standards of eligibility, placement, and termination appropriate to achieve the aim of providing competent dental services in these approved practice settings.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 575, Sec. 6. (AB 2485) Effective September 24, 2016.)