|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
131st MAINE LEGISLATURE |
|
|
LD 1256 |
|
LR 1985(01) |
|
|
|
An Act to Increase
Access to Oral Health Care by Expanding the Maine Dental Education Loan
Program |
|
Preliminary Fiscal
Impact Statement for Original Bill |
|
Sponsor: Rep. Mastraccio of Sanford |
|
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic
Advancement and Business |
|
Fiscal Note Required: Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preliminary
Fiscal Impact Statement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increases number of eligible loan recipients - Maine Dental
Education Loan Program |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Detail and
Notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Under current law,
the Maine Dental Education Loan Program, administered by the Finance
Authority of Maine (FAME), provides up to 3 loans or loan repayment
agreements annually for doctors of dental medicine. A recipient may receive a loan of up to
$20,000 per year for a total of $80,000 or $25,000 per year for a total of
$100,000, depending on if the first loan was received before or after January
1, 2020. The law also provides that
additional loans or loan repayment agreements may be awarded if funding is
available. The program receives Fund
for a Healthy Maine allocations of $237,740 per year. Public Law 2023, chapter 17 authorizes
funding for the program through the 2024-2025 biennium. According to FAME, the current funding
level supports loans for 4 new dentists per year along with the renewal loans
for existing program participants. |
|
This bill expands
the eligibility of the Maine Dental Education Loan Program to include dental
hygienists, dental therapists, expanded function dental assistants and dental
assistants and authorizes up to an additional 6 loans or loan repayment
agreements annually for this group of dental professionals. Assuming no additional funding beyond the
current allocation of $237,740 per year, loans granted to dental hygienists,
therapists and assistants will reduce the amount of funding available to
support loans to new dentists. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|