124th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 352		LR 342(02)
	An Act To Encourage Veterinary Practice in Maine
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			2009-10	2010-11	Projections 2011-12	Projections 2012-13
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$6,000	$30,000	$55,000	$80,000
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$6,000	$30,000	$55,000	$80,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes General Fund appropriations of $6,000 in fiscal year 2009-10 and $30,000 in fiscal year 2010-11 for the Student Financial Assistance program within the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) to fund the Maine Veterinary Medicine Loan Program.
	This legislation provides that FAME award up to 2 loans per year to eligible Maine residents, up to an aggregate of 8 loans.  It includes funding for 1 loan per year, with $25,000 being provided in fiscal year 2010-11 to fund the first year cost of one loan.  FAME will require additional General Fund appropriations of $50,000 in fiscal year 2011-12,  $75,000 in fiscal year 2012-13, and $100,000 in fiscal year 2013-14 to fund the cost of one additional loan per year.  Additionally, the Finance Authority of Maine has indicated that one loan per year can be funded within the existing resources of the Access to Medical Education program and the Health Professions Loan Program.  The $6,000 in fiscal year 2009-10 is for the initial costs to implement the loan program and $5,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2010-11 is for the ongoing cost of administering the program.
	Additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources associated with rulemaking and determination of areas of insufficient livestock veterinary services can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.