123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1129 LR 1779(01)
An Act To Increase Access to Oral Health Care
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Sponsor: Rep. Pendleton of Scarborough
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
2007-08 2008-09 Projections 2009-10 Projections 2010-11
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds $51,189 $49,800 $51,666 $53,702
Revenue
Other Special Revenue Funds $7,075 $8,470 $9,875 $11,275
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The Board of Dental Examiners, affiliated with the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, will require additional Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $51,189 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $49,800 in fiscal year 2008-09 for one part-time Office Specialist I position and related all other necessitated by an expected influx of foreign-trained dentists.  The board expects the number of complaints that will need to be followed-up to rise significantly.  The increase in dedicated revenue from licensing and registration fees is estimated to be $7,075 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $8,470 in fiscal year 2008-09.
The Board of Dental Examiners has indicated that there may be a need to raise licensing and registration fees to support the costs of this legislation.  However, a review of the Board's actual receipts and expenditures indicates that receipts have exceeded expenditures consistently since fiscal year 2002-03 and the Board has carried forward balances in excess of $100,000 over the past 3 fiscal years.  To date, the Board has an unobligated cash balance of $351,097.  Therefore, it is unclear whether the Board will need to increase licensing and registration fees or whether there will be sufficient funds available going forward to fund the ongoing costs of this provision.