Bill > AB1130

This bill requires the Dental Board of California to develop and implement an outreach and support program aimed at recruiting students from underserved communities to pursue dental education and licensure. The bill acknowledges significant disparities in dental care access, noting that over 570 Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas exist in California, and less than 10 percent of dentists are Latino or Black, despite those groups comprising approximately 45 percent of the state's population. The program's specific requirements include coordinating with educational institutions and community organizations, providing accessible information about dental career pathways, offering guidance on dental school applications, sharing information about financial aid programs like the California Dental Corps Loan Repayment Program, conducting at least two outreach activities annually, and creating a bilingual (English and Spanish) webpage with comprehensive resources. Additionally, the bill mandates that the board report on its outreach efforts through the sunset review process. The legislation is designed to address systemic barriers that prevent students from underserved communities from entering the dental profession, with the ultimate goal of improving access to oral healthcare in high-need regions of California.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1130