§319-3  Hawaii dental education plan. (a)  The department may enter into agreements with dental schools accredited bythe American Dental Association not within the jurisdiction of WICHE, for theeducation of Hawaii residents.

(b)  The agreements entered into undersubsection (a) shall provide among other necessary and desirable provisionsthat the schools contracted with shall reserve a set number of vacancies ineach class for qualified applicants who are residents of the State of Hawaii. The State, through the department, shall disburse moneys, on behalf of thestudent, to the school, the total of which for each student shall not exceedamounts being provided per student for a similar program under WICHE.  Theagreements may contain other provisions relating to the administration of theplan and any contracts thereunder.

(c)  Subject to the limitation set bysubsection (b), any amount allotted to a student shall be disbursed directly tothe school.

(d)  Any student participating in the planshall be responsible for financing of the student's expenses except for theamount specified in a contract executed in conformance with this chapter.  TheState shall not be implicitly or explicitly presumed to be liable or in any wayresponsible for any cost of a dental education for any participating studentexcept under such contract.

(e)  Students approved for participation in theplan shall be residents of the State of Hawaii, and shall have met the entrancerequirements of the contracting dental school.  Determination of the amount offunds to be expended on behalf of a student approved for participation in theplan shall be based on need and ability; provided that where there is nodemonstrated need, the State shall not be required to provide such specific sum.

(f)  Students seeking participation in thisprogram shall be required by the department of budget and finance to execute anagreement with the State, which shall, among other necessary and desirableprovisions, provide that upon completion of the student's dental education thestudent shall either:

(1)  Actively engage in professional practice or otherprofessional pursuits in areas with inadequate dental service, with thedepartment of health, or other acceptable service as determined by the directorof human services, director of health, and the director of finance, jointly, or

(2)  Repay all amounts expended by the State of Hawaiiunder this plan for the student's education.

(g)  Neither the department of budget andfinance nor any professional dental society in the State shall influence theselection of the qualified applicants for the plan nor the schools which theselected applicants attend. [L 1976, c 132, pt of §2; gen ch 1985; am L 1987, c339, §4]