§ 34-22-61 — Powers and Duties of Board

(a) The Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards may make reasonable rules, not inconsistent with the laws of this state, necessary for the regulation of its proceedings and for the discharge of the duties imposed upon the board.
(b) The board shall receive and review all applications for scholarships and loans; shall thoroughly investigate the ability, character, and qualifications of each applicant; and shall administer the scholarships and loans, subject to the provisions of this article.
(c) At least once every two years, the board shall calculate by county or other geographic area an Optometric Shortage Index by dividing the population of the geographic area by the number of optometrists practicing within that geographic area.
(d)(1) Annually, on or before the first day of December, the board shall submit a report on the condition, performance, and accomplishments of the scholarships granted and loans issued to all the following:
a. The Governor.
b. The Lieutenant Governor.
c. The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
d. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
e. The Chair of the House of Representatives Health Committee.
f. The Chair of the Senate Healthcare Committee.
g. The Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee.
h. The Chair of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Education Committee.
i. The Deputy Director of the Legislative Services Agency-Fiscal Division.
j. The Director of Finance.
(2) The board shall work with the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services to develop, track, and collect the data and information necessary for the report.
(e) Any appropriation made to the board or otherwise received by the board remaining at the end of any fiscal year shall remain with the board and shall not revert to any other fund.

Legislative History

(Acts 1982, No. 82-460, p. 735, §3; Act 2012-476, p. 1319, §1; Act 2022-388, §1.)