An Act To Encourage Veterinary Practice in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0352
Committee Amendment CA_B_S368 (Senate)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §12102, 20-A MRSA §12103, 20-A MRSA §12104, 20-A MRSA §12105, 20-A MRSA §1210, 20-A MRSA §12106

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "..8" to S.P. 116, L.D. 352, Bill, "An Act To 
Encourage Veterinary Practice in Maine" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Encourage Veterinary Practice in Maine and Mal<e Revisions to Related 
Medical Education Programs Administered by the Finance Authority of Maine' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inse11ing the following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §12102, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 830, §4 and c. 832, §10, 
is amended to read: 
§12102. Comprehensive programs 
The chief executive officer shall administer the comprehensive programs establ ished 
in this chapter and chapter 424-A to address the sh0l1age of primary health care 
professionals and veterinarians in underserved areas of the State. With the assistance of 
the Advisory Committee on Medical Education, established by Title 5, section 12004-1, 
subsection 7, the chief executive officer shall plan, evaluate and update the programs to 
ensure that Maine residents have access to medical education and veterinaJY education 
and that Maine residents have access to primary health care and to veterinary care for 
their animals. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §12103, sub-§l, as amended by PL 2009, c. 410, §2, is 
fU11her amended to read: 
1. Positions. The Access to Medical Education Program is established under this 
section. Under th is program, the chief executive officer shall secure up to 21 positions 
annually for Maine students at schools of allopathic, osteopathic or veterinary medical 
education up to an aggregate of 84 positions. 
Five positions are for students of 
osteopathic medicine, 15 positions are for students of allopathic medicine and one 
position is for students of veterinary medicine. 
If there is an insufficient number of 
qualified applicants for positions in either allopathic or osteopathic medicine, the chief 
Page I - 124LR0342(04)-J 
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executive officer may increase or decrease the number of positions available in either 
discipline. 
The allopathic and osteopathic medicine positions are available only to 
eligible students commencing professional education on or after January 1, 1993 and on 
or before September 30, 2009. The veterinary medicine positions are available o'nly to 
eligible students commencing professional education on or after Januaty 1, 1999 and on 
or before September 30, 2010. Commencing January 1, 2010, the chief executive officer 
may not secure any new positions for students at schools of allopathic or osteopathic 
medicine and shall secure only the number of positions necessary to allow students 
already occupying such positions as of January I, 20 I ° to complete their remaining 
medical education, up to 3 years, at the institution. Commencing Januaty 1, 2011, the 
chief executive officer may not secure a new position for a student at a school of 
veterinary medicine and shall secure only the number of positions necessary to allow 
students occupying such positions as of January 1, 2011 to complete their remaining 
medical education, up to 3 years, at the institution. Commencing July I, 2013, the chief 
executive officer may not secure any fUliher positions at schools of allopath ic or 
osteopathic medicine under this section. The veterinal)' medicine position is available to 
a student commencing medical education on or after January I, 1999. Commencing July 
I, 2014, the chief executive officer may not secure any further positions at a school of 
veterinary medicine under this section. 
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §12104, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 830, §4 and c. 
832, § 10, is amended to read: 
1. 
Eligibility. 
Loans are available to Maine residents pursuing allopathic, 
osteopathic, optometric, veterinary and dentistry education wfle and to Maine residents 
obtaining a first loan under this section for the pursuit of an education in optometry prior 
to January I, 20 II. To be eligible for a loan under this section, a person must meet 
eligibility criteria, established by rule of the authority, which at a minimum must require: 
A. That the student show financial need for a loan; and 
B. That priority be given to students: 
(I) Who have previously received a loan pursuant to this section and who exhibit 
financial need as determined by the authority; 6f 
(2) Who are participants in the access to medical education program Access to 
Medical Education Program established in this chapter. section 12103; or 
(3) 
Who are participants in the Maine Veterinary Medicine Loan Program 
established in chapter 424-A. 
Loans under this section are available only to eligible students on or after January I, 
+99J-,. 
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §12104, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 830, §4 and c. 
832, § I 0, is repealed. 
Sec.S. 20-A MRSA §12104, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 410, §4, is 
amended to read: 
2-A. Access to Medical Education Program students. As long as the student is 
otherwise eligible, a student occupying a position at a school of allopathic or osteopathic 
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medicine pursuant to section 12103 that was secured by the chief executive officer on or 
before June 30, 2009 January I, 20 I 0 continues to be eligible for loans under the program 
under this section through June. 30, 2-Q-l.2. 2013. As long as the student is otherwise 
eligible, a student occupying a position at a school of veterinary med icine pursuant to 
section 12103 that was secured by the chief executive officer on or before January I, 
II continues to be eligible for loans under the program under this section through June 
30,2014. 
Sec. 6. 20-A MRSA §12104, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 830, §4 and c. 
832, § I 0, is repealed. 
Sec. 7. 20-A MRSA §12104, sub-§5, as amended by PL 1995, c. 117, Pt. 0, §2 
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and affected by §3 and amended by PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is further amended to 
read: 
5. Loan agl'eement for students obtaining first program loans pdor to January 
1, 2010 01' January 1, 2011. This subsection applies to allopathic and osteopathic 
students under section 12103 who obtained their first program loan prior to January I, 
10 and to all other students who obtained their first program loan prior to January I, 
II. The student shall enter into a loan agreement that provides for the following. 
A. Upon completion of professional education the student shall repay the loan in 
accordance' with the following schedule. 
(I) A loan recipient who does not obtain loan forgiveness pursuant to this section 
shall repay the entire principal portion of the loan plus simple interest at a rate to 
be determined by rule of the authority. Interest does not begin to accrue until the 
loan recipient completes medical education, including residency and internship. 
The authority may establish differing interest rates to encourage loan recipients to 
practice primary health care medicine in the State. 
(2) PrimalY health care physicians and dentists practicing in a designated health 
professional shOliage area, any physician practicing in an underserved specialty 
or any physician providing services to a designated underserved group are 
forgiven the larger of 25% of the original outstanding indebtedness plus any 
accrued interest or $7,500 for each year of practice. 
Primary health care physicians and dentists practicing in the State, but not 
practicing in a designated health professional shOliage area, are forgiven the 
larger of 12.5% of the original outstanding indebtedness plus any accrued interest 
or $3,750 for each year of practice. 
(3) 
Veterinarians providing services to Maine residents with insufficient 
veterinary services are forgiven the larger of 25% of the original outstanding 
indebtedness plus any accrued interest or $7,500 for each year of practice. 
(4) 
Any student completing an entire residency at any primary health care 
residency program in the State is forgiven 50% of the original outstanding 
indebtedness for each year of practice in a designated health professional 
sholiage area, as a physician practicing in an underserved specialty or as a 
physician providing services to an underserved group or 25% of the original 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT '13" to S.P. 116, L.D. 352 
outstanding indebtedness for each year of primary health care practice in the 
State. 
B. Loans must be repaid over a term no greater than 10 years, except that the chief 
executive officer may extend an individual's term as necessary to ensure repayment 
of the loan. 
Repayment must commence when the loan recipient completes, 
withdraws from or otherwise fails to continue medical education. 
C. AHy The Department of Health and Human Services may require a loan recipient 
requesting forgiveness or an interest rate reduction benefit under this section, 
excluding veterinarians, sHa+J. to repOli annually to the Department of Health and 
Human Services, Office of Rural Health office of rural health and primalY care the 
following: 
(1) 
The number of Medicaid patients served by the loan recipient and the 
percentage of the loan recipient's overall service provided to Medicaid patients; 
(2) The number of instances in which a loan recipient accepted a Medicare 
assignment and the number of and basis for any rejections during the period of 
the repOli; and 
(3) The amount of time devoted by the loan recipient to practice in a public 
health clinic during the period of the report. 
The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health and the 
Finance Authority of Maine shall determine vt'hether the level of service provided by 
the loan recipient to Medicaid and Medicare patients and in public health clinics vt'as 
reasonable. 
If the Office of Rural 
Health and the Finance Authority of Maine 
determine office of rural health and primary care determines that the level of service 
provided was not reasonable or if the loan recipient fails to provide the repOli by the 
date required, the loan recipient is not entitled to any loan forgiveness or interest rate 
reAllctiAIl benefit under this section for the year of the report. 
Sec. 8. 20-A MRS A §12104, sub-§S-A is enacted to read: 
5-A. Loan agreement for students obtaining first program loans after January 
1,2010 or January 1, 2011. This subsection applies to students who are not eligible for 
"loan agreements under subsection 5. The student shall enter irito a loan agreement that 
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provides for the following. 
A. 
Upon completion of professional education the student shall repay the entire 
principal pOliion of the loan plus simple interest at a rate that may range from 0% up 
to a maximum to be determined by rule of the authority and depending upon the type 
and location of medical practice undeliaken by the loan recipient. Interest does not 
begin to accrue until the loan recipient completes medical education, including 
residency and internship. 
The authority may establish differing interest rates to 
encourage loan recipients to provide primaly health care or dentistly in certain areas 
of the State, or to celiain underserved groups, to practice in underserved specialties or 
to provide veterinary services in areas of the State with insufficient veterinary 
services as defined in chapter 424-A. 
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B. Loans must be repaid over a term no greater than 10 years, except that the chief 
executive officer may extend an individual's term as necessary to ensure repayment 
of the loan. 
Repayment must commence when the loan recipient completes, 
withdraws from or otherwise fails to continue medical education. 
C. The Depal1ment of Health and Human Services may require a loan recipient 
requesting an interest rate benefit under this section, excluding veterinarians, to rep0l1 
annually to the Department of Health and Human Services, office of rural health and 
primary care the following: 
(I) The number of Medicaid patients served by the loan recipient and the 
percentage of the loan recipient's overall service provided to Medicaid patients; 
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(2) The number of instances in which a loan recipient accepted a Medicare 
assignment and the number of and basis for any rejections during the period of 
the rep0l1; and 
(3) The amount of time devoted by the loan recipient to practice in a public 
health clinic during the period of the report. 
If the Depal1ment of Health and Human Services, office of rural health and primalY care 
determines that the level of service provided was not reasonable or if the loan recipient 
fails to provide the rep0l1 by the date required, the loan recipient is not entitled to any 
interest rate benefit under this section for the year of the rep0l1. 
Sec. 9. 20-A MRSA §12104, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 830, §4 and c. 
832, § 10, is amended to read: 
6. Deferments. Deferments may be granted for causes established by rule of the 
authority. Interest at a rate to be determined by rule of the authority must be assessed 
during the deferment. The student's total debt to the authority, including principal and 
interest, must be repaid either through return service, if eligible, or cash payments. The 
chief executive officer shall make determinations of deferment on a case-by-case basis. 
The decision of the chief executive officer is final. 
Sec. 10. 20-A MRSA §12105, sub-§I, as amended by PL 2009, c. 410, §5, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
1. 
Fund ueated. 
A nonlapsing, interest-earning, revolving fund under the 
iurisdiction of the authority is created to carry out the purposes of this chapter and chapter 
424-A. The fund may be used only for the following purposes: 
A. Prior to July I, 2013, to secure positions under section 12103 and make loans 
under section 12104 for allopathic and osteopathic medical students; 
B. Prior to July I, 2014, to secure positions under section 12103 and make loans 
under section 12104 for veterinary students; 
C. Beginning JanualY I, 2011, to make loans under the Maine Veterinary Medicine 
Loan Program established in chapter 424-A; 
. 
D. Prior to July I, 2014, to make loans under section 12104 to students who are not 
occupying positions secured under section 12103 and who obtain their first loan 
under section 12104 priOl' to January 1, 20 II; and 
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E. Beginning JanualY I, 201], to make loans under section 12104 to students who 
have not received a loan under section 12104 prior to January I, 2011. 
Beginning July' I, 2009, the authority shaIl use any unexpended balance of funds 
previously designated for the purchase of positions of aIlopathic or osteopathic medicine 
under section 12103 to fund scholarships awarded under section 12103-A. 
Any 
unexpended balance in the fund after the unused pOliion is redesignated to support the 
scholarships described in section 121 03-A carries over for use under section 12104. 
The authority may receive, invest and expend, on behalf of the fund, money from gifts, 
grants, bequests and donations, or other sources in addition to money appropriated or 
allocated by the State. Loan repayments under this chapter or chapter 424-A or other 
repayments to the authority under section 12103 or 12104 must be invested by the 
authority, as provided by law, with the earned income to be added to the fund. Money 
received by the authority on behalf of the fund, except interest income, must be used for 
such purposes; interest income may be used for such purposes or to pay student financial 
assistance administrative costs incurred by the authority. 
Sec. 11. 20-A MRSA §1210S, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2009, c. 410, §6, is 
fmther amended to read: 
2. Separate account authorized. The authority may divide each of the funds under 
subsection I and section 12103-A, subsection 6 into separate accounts it determines 
necessary or convenient for implementing this chapter or chapter 424-A, including, but 
not limited to, accounts reserved for the purchase of positions and accounts reserved for 
loans under this chapter or chapter 424-A and accounts reserved for scholarships under 
this chapter. 
Sec. 12. 20-A MRSA §1210S, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 410, §7, is 
flllther amended to read: 
3. Allocation of repayments. The authority may allocate a pOltion of the annual 
loan repayments received under section 12104 for the purpose of recruiting pri mary 
health care physicians for designated health professional shOltage areas and a portion of 
any loan repayments received under chapter 424-A for the purpose of recruiting 
veterinarians to areas of the State with insufficient veterinmy services as defined in 
chapter 424-A. ~effHm Those pOltions may be used: 
A. 
To generate additional matching funds for recruitment of physicians for 
designated health professional shortage areas or vetel:inarians to areas with 
insufficient veterinary services as defined in chapter 424-A; or 
B. 
In accordance with criteria established by the authority, to encourage primary 
health care physicians to practice medicine in health professional shOltage areas or to 
encourage veterinarians to practice in areas of the State with insufficient veterinary 
services as defined in chapter 424-A, as applicable. 
Sec. 13. 20-A MRSA §12106, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 417, §§21 to 
and PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §7, is fUlther amended to read: 
2. 
Members. 
The Advisory Committee on Medical Education consists of the 
following +9 members: 
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A. Nine members appointed by the chief executive officer and subject to approval by 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education 
matters. Of these members: 
(1) 
One must be a representative of a major statewide agency representing 
allopathic physicians; 
(2) 
One must be a representative of a major statewide agency representing 
osteopathic physicians; 
(3) 
One must be a representative of a major statewide agency representing 
family physicians; 
(4) One must be a member of the major statewide agency representing hospitals; 
(5) One must be a representative of the major statewide agency representing 
community health centers; 
(7) 
One must be a representative of an association of commercial health 
insurance companies doing business in the State; 
(8) One must be a representative of a statewide area health education center 
program; and 
(9) Two must be at-large members; 
B. 
The Commissioner of Health and I-Iuman Services or the commissioner's 
designee; 
D. 
Three at-large members from areas of the State lacking reasonable access to 
health care: one appointed by the Governor; one appointed by the President of the 
Senate; and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, all of 
whom are subject to approval by the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
havingjurisdiction over education matters; and 
E. £m The following members appointed by the chief executive officer and subject 
to approval by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over education matters. These members must include: 
(I) A chief executive of a family practice residency in the State; 
(2) A representative of an institution of allopathic medical education at '""hich 
the authority secures positions for students; 
(3) A representative of an institution of osteopathic medical education at ,.vhich 
the authority secures positions for students; 
(4) 
A Maine student, resident or practicing physician who has obtained a 
position secured by the authority at an institution of allopathic medical education 
under section 12103 or who has obtained a scholarship under section 12103-A; 
(5) 
A Maine student, resident or practicing physician who has obtained a 
position secured by the authority at an institution of osteopathic medical 
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education under section 12103 or who has obtained a scholarship under section 
03-A; and 
(6) A representative of a major teaohing hospital in the State each qualifying 
Maine-based medical school program with students receiving scholarships under 
section 12103-A. 
Sec. 14. 20-A MRSA c. 424-A is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 424-A 
MAINE VETERINARY MEDICINE LOAN'PROGRAM 
§12121. Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1. Authority. "Authority" means the Finance Authority of Maine. 
2. Chief executive officer. "Chief executive officer" means the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Finance Authority of Maine. 
3. Insufficient veterinal"V services. "Insufficient veterinalY services" means an 
insufficient number of practitioners of veterinary medicine in a veterinary specialty 
related to livestock, as determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Resources. 
4. Maine resident. "Maine resident" means a person who has been a resident of the' 
State for a minimum of 2 years for purposes other than education at the time of the 
person's entlY to a school of veterinary medicine as determined by rule of the authority. In 
determining residency, the authority shall consider: 
A. Length of residence in the State for other than tuition purposes; 
B. Secondary school attended; 
C. Legal residence of parents; 
D. Place of voting registration, ,if registered to vote; 
E. Place where taxes are paid; and 
F. Other indicators established by the authority. 
5. 
Program. 
"Program" means the Maine VeterinalY Medicine Loan Program 
established under section 12122. 
§12122. Maine Veterinal)' Medicine Loan Program 
1. Establishment. The Maine VeterinalY Medicine Loan Program is established. 
The authority shall administer the program. 
Beginning JanualY I, 2011, the chief 
executive officer shall, as resources allow, award up to 2 loans annually up to an 
aggregate of 8. Loans are available to Maine residents enrolled in a school of veterinary 
medicine. 
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2. Application process. Application for participation in the program must be made 
directly to the autherity. 
3. Eligibility. To be eligible to participate in the program, a person must be a Maine 
resident, be enrolled in a school of veterinary medicine and meet additional eligibility 
criteria establ ished in rules adopted under section 12124. In selecting recipients, priority 
must be given to a student who: 
A. Previously received a loan pursuant to this section; 
B. Exhibits financial need; and 
C. Demonstrates an interest in practicing in an area of the State with insufficient 
veterinaIY services. 
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4. Maximum amount. The maximum loan amount available under the program to 
each paliicipant is $25,000 per year for a period of up to 4 years. 
5. Loan agreement; forgiveness. A student selected as a loan recipient shall enter 
into a loan agreement as set out in this subsection. 
A. Upon completion of professional education, the loan recipient shall repay the loan 
in accordance with this paragraph. 
(I) 
A loan recipient who does not obtain loan forgiveness pursuant to 
subparagraph (2) shall repay the entire principal of the loan plus simple interest at 
a rate to be determined by rule of the authority. Interest does not begin to accrue 
until the loan recipient completes veterinary medical education. 
(2) A loan recipient who, upon conclusion of the loan recipient's professional 
education, including any fellowships, elects to serve as a veterinarian in an area 
of the State with insufficient veterinaIY services is forgiven 25% of the original 
outstanding indebtedness for each year of that practice. A loan recipient who 
practices in an area of the State with insufficient veterinalY services less than full 
time may receive prorated loan forgiveness. A loan recipient who devotes less 
than 50% of the recipient's practice to the care of livestock may receive prorated 
loan forgiveness. 
(3) A loan recipient must make a commitment to undel1ake specific training, 
including clinical experiences in livestock medicine. 
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B. Loans must be repaid over a term no longer than 10 years, except that the ch ief 
executive officer may extend an individual's term as necessaIY to ensure repayment 
of the loan. Repayment must commence within 6 months of when the loan recipient 
completes, withdraws from or otherwise fails to continue veterinary medical 
education. 
C. A veterinarian requesting forgiveness or an interest rate benefit under this section 
shall report annually to the Depal1ment of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources on 
the p0I1ion of the veterinarian's practice dedicated to livestock. 
6. Default. A loan recipient under the program who agrees to practice in an area of 
the State with insufficient veterinary services and who fails to complete the period of 
service required to payoff the loan is liable to the authority for an amount equal to the 
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to S.P. 116, L.D. 352 
sum of the total amount paid by or on behalf of the authority to or on behalf of the 
recipient under the agreement plus interest at a rate determined by the authority. Credit 
for practicing in an area with insufficient veterinaIY services is awarded for each 
consecutive 12-month period served. Exceptions may be made by the authority in 
accordance with subsection 7. 
7. Deferments. Deferments on the repayment of a loan under the program may be 
granted for causes established by rule of the authority. Interest at a rate to be determined 
by rule of the authority must be assessed during the deferment. The loan recipient's total 
debt to the authority, including principal and interest, must be repaid either through return 
service or cash payments. The chief executive officer shall make determinations of 
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deferment on a case-by-case basis. The decision of the chief executive officer is final. 
§12123. Selection committee for students of veterinary medicine 
The chief executive officer shall annually convene a selection committee of not fewer 
than 3 members to advise the authority in developing application materials designed to 
identify students likely to practice livestock veterinary medicine in the State and to make 
recommendations to the authority regarding the priority of applicants for loans to students 
of veterinalY medicine. The selection committee must include the state veterinarian and a 
representative of a statewide association of veterinarians. 
§12124. Rules 
The authority shall establish rules necessary to implement this chapter. The 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall adopt rules to establish 
criteria for determining areas of insufficient veterinalY services for livestock, a definition 
of livestock and a method for determining the percent of a practice that is devoted to 
livestock. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment incorporates changes to the Health Professions Loan Program and 
the Access to Medical Education Program and makes revisions to the proposed veterinary 
medicine loan program. The changes to the Health Professions Loan Program convert it 
from a program that provided forgivable loans for medical, veterinary and dental 
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education and loans for optometry education to a program that provides loans for 
medical, veterinary and dental education to be repaid at varying interest rates depending 
upon the nature and location of the practice. 
The' amendment eliminates loans for 
optometry students. 
The amendment conforms celiain effective dates to legislation 
enacted in 2009 creating the Doctors for Maine's Future Scholarship Program. 
The 
amendment eliminates new access seats for veterinary education beginning in 2011 in 
anticipation of the creation of the Maine Veterinary Medicine Loan Program. The 
amendment makes changes to the Advisory Committee on Medical Education to reflect 
the changing nature of the programs. 
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LD352 
LR 342(04) 
An Act To Encourage Veterinary Practice in Maine 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 13" 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential future biennium savings - Veterinary Medicine Loan Program 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill creates the Maine Veterinary Medicine Loan Program to be administered by the Finance Authority of Maine 
(FAME) and provides that, beginning January 1,2011, the Authority may award up to 2 loans per year up to an 
aggregate of 8 loans depending on the availability of resources. The maximum loan amount for each eligible 
participant is set at $25,000 per year for up to 4 years. 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. Additional funding will be required from General Fund appropriations or other sources to 
support the costs of providing a second loan each year. Because this legislation provides that loans be awarded only if 
funds are available, no General Fund appropriations are required. FAME has indicated that the costs of administering 
the loan program can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
Changing the Health Professions Loan Program from a forgivable loan program to a progi'am that provides loans at 
varying interes't rates as well as eliminating loans from this program to optometry students will result in more funds 
being available for loans to eligible students in the future. The amount can not be determined at this time. 
Additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources associated with rulemaking can be 
absorbed within existing budgeted resources. The impact of changes to the Department of Health and Human 
Services' role in evaluating requests for loan forgiveness or an interest rate benefit are expected to be minor and can be 
absorbed by the department utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LR0342(04) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I