Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 635-X-8 — Approved Areas for Repayment of Loans With Service

635 State of Alabama Optometric Scholarship Awards Board

Ala. Admin. Code r. 635-X-8-.01 Committee On Approved Communities

A standing committee as defined in 635-X-1-.06(2) shall be appointed to recommend communities which are acceptable as areas where the loan obligations can be repaid by service, as provided in Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-22-63(c), 34-22-65.

History

• Author: Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-22-60, et seq.
• Filed September 7, 1984. Amended: Published June 30, 2025; effective August 14, 2025.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 635-X-8-.02 Identification Of Needy Communities

The committee shall assume the initiative to identify the communities which are in need of additional optometric service and qualify as areas in which the loan recipients can repay their obligation by service, as provided in Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-22-63(c), 34-22-65.

At least once every two (2) years, the committee shall calculate by county or other geographic area an Optometric Shortage Index by dividing the population of the county or geographic area by the number of optometrists practicing within that county or geographic area.

History

• Author: Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-22-60, et seq.
• Filed September 7, 1984. Amended: Published June 30, 2025; effective August 14, 2025.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 635-X-8-.03 Evaluation System

It is the committee's obligation to devise a system to obtain the necessary information to evaluate the need of optometric service in a community.

History

• Author: Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-22-60, et seq.
• Filed September 7, 1984. Amended: Published June 30, 2025; effective August 14, 2025.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 635-X-8-.04 Loan Recipient's Application To Classify Communities As A Needy Area

The recipient of a loan may petition the Board for approval of a community as an area in which he/she may repay his/her obligation with service rather than cash.

History

• Author: Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-22-60, et seq.
• Filed September 7, 1984. Amended: Published June 30, 2025; effective August 14, 2025.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 635-X-8-.05 Community's Application For Classification As A Needy Area

Any community or area in the state with a population of less than 100,000 may petition the Board for approval as an area critically in need of additional optometric service. It is expected that such a petition will be presented by a responsible officer of the community or a representative group of citizens. These petitions shall be referred to the Committee on Approved Communities for review and evaluation.

History

• Author: Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-22-60, et seq.
• Filed September 7, 1984. Amended: Published June 30, 2025; effective August 14, 2025.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 635-X-8-.06 Committee's Report

The committee shall report at each meeting of the Board. It shall present recommendations for approval or disapproval of all areas it has investigated since the last meeting.

History

• Author: Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-22-60, et seq.
• Filed September 7, 1984. Amended: Published June 30, 2025; effective August 14, 2025.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 635-X-8-.07 Approval As A Needy Area

A community shall be classified as an approved repayment-with-service area in which a loan obligation can be repaid with service if two-thirds (2/3) of the vote cast at the meeting of the Board is in the affirmative.

History

• Author: Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-22-60, et seq.
• Filed September 7, 1984. Amended: Published June 30, 2025; effective August 14, 2025.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 635-X-8-.08 List Of Approved Needy Areas

A list of all communities approved by the Board shall be maintained by the chair, the Board’s Executive Secretary and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry and available to all recipients of loans. This cannot be considered a listing of all areas in the state which could qualify as repayment-with-service areas. Additions can be made as provided above. (635-X-8-.02, 635-X-8-.04 and 635-X-8-.05)

History

• Author: Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-22-60, et seq.
• Filed September 7, 1984. Amended: Published June 30, 2025; effective August 14, 2025.