Section 1973.

(a) The Dentally Underserved Account is hereby created in the State Dentistry Fund.

(b) The sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) is hereby authorized to be expended from the State Dentistry Fund on this program. These moneys are appropriated as follows:

(1) One million dollars ($1,000,000) shall be transferred from the State Dentistry Fund to the Dentally Underserved Account on July 1, 2003. Of this amount, sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000) shall be used by the Dental Board of California in the 2003–04 fiscal year for operating expenses necessary to manage this program.

(2) One million dollars ($1,000,000) shall be transferred from the State Dentistry Fund to the Dentally Underserved Account on July 1, 2004. Of this amount, sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000) shall be used by the Dental Board of California in the 2004–05 fiscal year for operating expenses necessary to manage this program.

(3) One million dollars ($1,000,000) shall be transferred from the State Dentistry Fund to the Dentally Underserved Account on July 1, 2005. Of this amount, sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000) shall be used by the Dental Board of California in the 2005–06 fiscal year for operating expenses necessary to manage this program.

(c) Funds placed into the Dentally Underserved Account shall be used by the board to repay the loans per agreements made with dentists.

(1) Funds paid out for loan repayment may have a funding match from foundation or other private sources.

(2) Loan repayments may not exceed one hundred five thousand dollars ($105,000) per individual licensed dentist.

(3) Loan repayments may not exceed the amount of the educational loans incurred by the dentist applicant.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 11005 of the Government Code, the board may seek and receive matching funds from foundations and private sources to be placed into the Dentally Underserved Account. The board also may contract with an exempt foundation for the receipt of matching funds to be transferred to the Dentally Underserved Account for use by this program.

(e) Funds in the Dentally Underserved Account appropriated in subdivision (b) or received pursuant to subdivision (d) are continuously appropriated for the repayment of loans per agreements made between the board and the dentists.

(f) On or after July 1, 2010, the board shall extend the California Dental Corps Loan Repayment Program of 2002 and distribute the money remaining in the account until all the moneys in the account are expended. Regulations that were adopted by the board for the purposes of the program shall apply.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 385, Sec. 20. Effective January 1, 2012.)