(110 ILCS 948/30)

Sec. 30. The award of grants.

(a) Under the program, for each year that a qualified applicant practices full time in this State in a designated shortage area as a dentist or dental specialist, the Department shall, subject to appropriation, award a grant to that person in an amount equal to the amount in educational loans that the person must repay that year. However, the total amount in grants that a person may be awarded under the program must not exceed $25,000 per year for a 4-year period.

The grant award for a dental hygienist shall be set by rule of the Department.
(b) The Department shall require recipients to use the grants to pay off their educational loans.

(c)  The initial grant awarded to a dentist or dental specialist under this Act shall be for a 2-year period.  Based on the successful completion of the initial 2-year grant, the grantees may be awarded up to 2 subsequent one-year grants.  Grantees are eligible to receive grant funds for no more than a 4-year period.  Previous grant recipients shall be given priority for years 3 and 4 grant funding, provided that the grantee continues to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 25 of this Act.  Grantees shall practice full time in a designated shortage area for the period of each grant awarded.

The grant award for a dental hygienist shall be for a maximum of 2 years.

(d)  Successful applicants shall be eligible for a grant award upon execution of the grant agreement and shall then begin to receive grant award payments on a quarterly basis.

    (e) The Department shall award grants to otherwise eligible dental applicants by using the following criteria:
        (1) Dental specialist willing to practice in any designated shortage area.
        (2) Dentist willing to practice in a designated shortage area with the highest Health