CHAPTER 5. DENTAL UNDERSERVED AREA AND MINORITY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM

IC 25-14-5
     Chapter 5. Dental Underserved Area and Minority Recruitment Program

IC 25-14-5-1
Committee
    
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "committee" means the dental recruitment committee established by section 4 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34.

IC 25-14-5-2
Fund
    
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the Indiana dental recruitment fund established by section 5 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34.

IC 25-14-5-2.5
Minority
    
Sec. 2.5. As used in this chapter, "minority" means an individual identified as any of the following:
        (1) Black or African-American.
        (2) Hispanic or Latino.
As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34.

IC 25-14-5-3
Underserved area
    
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "underserved area" means a county, city, town, census tract, or township designated by the state department of health under IC 16-46-5-7 or by the committee as underserved by general dentists, pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, or dental hygienists.
As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34.

IC 25-14-5-4
Dental recruitment committee
    
Sec. 4. (a) The dental recruitment committee is established.
    (b) The committee consists of four (4) members as follows:
        (1) One (1) member of the board, who is selected by the board.
        (2) The commissioner of the state department of health, or the commissioner's designee.
        (3) The president of the Indiana Dental Association, or the president's designee.
        (4) The dean of the Indiana University School of Dentistry, or the dean's designee.
    (c) The member selected under subsection (b)(1) shall serve as chairperson of the committee.
As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34.

IC 25-14-5-5
Dental recruitment fund      Sec. 5. (a) The Indiana dental recruitment fund is established. The purpose of the fund is to provide grants to dentists and dental hygienists to encourage the full-time delivery of dental care in underserved areas and to increase the number of minority dentists and dental hygienists in Indiana. The board shall administer the fund.
    (b) The fund consists of the following:
        (1) Payments made under section 6(3) of this chapter.
        (2) Gifts to the fund.
        (3) Grants from public or private sources.
    (c) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund.
    (d) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund.
    (e) The fund shall be used to do the following:
        (1) Provide grants under this chapter.
        (2) Pay the costs incurred by the committee in administering this chapter.
As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34.

IC 25-14-5-6
Grant eligibility
    
Sec. 6. To be eligible for a grant, a dentist or dental hygienist must meet all the following conditions:
        (1) Hold a license to practice as a dentist under this article or as a dental hygienist under IC 25-13-1.
        (2) Has entered into an agreement with the committee to:
            (A) either:
                (i) commit to working five (5) years in an underserved area or as a minority dentist or dental hygienist in Indiana for a yearly grant of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000); or
                (ii) commit to working two (2) years in an underserved area or as a minority dentist or dental hygienist in Indiana for a yearly grant of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) with the option by the dentist or dental hygienist to serve up to three (3) additional years for a yearly grant of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000);
            (B) provide an average of at least forty (40) hours of dentistry per week in underserved areas or as a minority dentist or dental hygienist in Indiana;
            (C) maintain a patient base that includes at least thirty percent (30%) as Medicaid patients; and
            (D) provide a sliding fee scale, as approved by the committee, for low income patients.
        (3) Has entered into an agreement with the committee that if the dentist or dental hygienist does not comply with the requirements in subdivision (2) that the dentist or dental hygienist will pay back to the committee seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500), plus interest, for each month that the dentist or dental hygienist did not serve or had left to serve

under the terms of the agreement.
As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34. Amended by P.L.1-2010, SEC.106.

IC 25-14-5-7
Application form
    
Sec. 7. A dentist or dental hygienist must apply for a grant on an application form supplied by the committee.
As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34.

IC 25-14-5-8
Determination by committee
    
Sec. 8. The committee shall consider each application and determine the following:
        (1) The eligibility of the applicant for the grant program.
        (2) The availability of sufficient money in the fund.
As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34.

IC 25-14-5-9
Rules
    
Sec. 9. The committee may recommend rules for the board to adopt under IC 4-22-2 that are necessary to administer this chapter.
As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34.