This provision creates the Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards and requires it to award scholarships and loans, prioritize UAB optometry students, report annually to the Legislature, elect a chair each year, and treat 50% of members as a quorum.
(a)(1) There is established the Board of Optometric Scholarship and Loan Awards which shall establish and award scholarships for academic excellence to provide for and further optometric training in pursuance of an optometric degree and establish and award loans to incentivize students to serve underserved areas of the state. (2) Awards may be available to qualified applicants for admission to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. Qualified applicants from any other optometric school accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association are eligible to apply for loans provided through the Alabama Optometric Service Program, created pursuant to Section 34-22-62. The board shall give first priority to students who will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. (b) The board shall be composed of all of the following members: (1) One optometrist from six components of the nine component societies of the Alabama Optometric Association whose terms of office shall be staggered, two optometrists being elected for a term of two years; two optometrists being elected for a term of three years; and two optometrists being elected for a term of four years, with each successor being elected for a term of four years. (2) A member of the Alabama Optometric Association, appointed by the board of the Alabama Optometric Association. (3) The Dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, or his or her designee. (4) The Chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry Admissions Committee. (5) The Executive Director of the Alabama Optometric Association. (6) Two community representatives appointed by the Governor. (c) The membership of the board shall be inclusive and reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state. The board shall annually report to the Legislature, by the second legislative day of each regular session, the extent to which the board has complied with the diversity requirements of this subsection. (d) Annually, the board shall elect a chair from among its members. (e) Fifty percent of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at meetings. (f) Members of the board may participate in a meeting of the board by means of telephone conference, video conference, or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting may hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting for all purposes, including constituting a quorum.