An Act To Modify the Maine Dental Education Loan Program
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0177
Sponsors: RA YE, PERRY, ALFOND, LEWIN, MILLER, STRANG BURGESS, SUTHERLAND
Amends: 20-A MRSA §12302

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
The following document is provided by the 
LAW AND LEGISLATIVE DIGITAL LIBRARY 
at the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library 
http://legislature.maine.gov/lawlib 
Reproduced from scanned originals with text recognition applied 
(searchable text may contain some errors and/or omissions) 
n 
'-_/ 
124th MAINE LEGISLATU 
FIRST REGULAR SESSIuN-2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 177 
S.P.63 
January 21,2009 
An Act To Modify the Maine Dental Education Loan Program 
(EMERGENCy) 
Submitted by the Finance Authority of Maine pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee 'on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator RA YE of Washington. 
Cosponsored by Representative PERRY of Calais and 
9tf}(J~ 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senator: ALFOND of Cumberland, Representatives: LEWIN of Eliot, MILLER of Somerville, 
STRANG BURGESS of Cumberland, SUTHERLAND of Chapman. 
-Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Maine Dental Education Loan Program is limited to 3 combined 
awards annually and an aggregate of 12; and 
Whereas, money in the program is currently sufficient to fund additional awards; 
and 
Whereas, that money could be awarded in 2009 but for the current limitation and, if 
the limitation were eliminated in time to make awards to eligible students entering dental 
school in 2009, more students could benefit; and 
Whereas, there is an urgent need in the State of Maine for additional dentists 
practicing primary dentistry, which this program addresses by providing financial support 
for dental students and certain dental practitioners; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §12302, sub-§l, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 
510, Pt. E, § 1, is amended to read: 
1. Establishment. The Maine Dental Education Loan Program, referred to in this 
chapter as "the program," is established. The authority shall administer the program. 
Under this program, beginning in fiscal year 2000-01 and ending in fiscal year 2007-08, 
the chief executive officer shall award up to 3 loans or loan repayment agreements 
annually up to an aggregate of 12. Beginning in fiscal year 2008-09, the chief executive 
officer shall award up to 3 loans or loan repayment agreements "annually and may award 
additional loans or loan repayment agreements annually as funds permit. As provided in 
subsection 3: 
A. Loans are available to Maine residents enrolled in a dental school; or 
B .. A loan repayment agreement is available to a person who is eligible for licensure 
as a doctor of dental medicine in Maine and who has outstanding dental education 
loans. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
) 
) 
) 
(~\ 
i 
, 
~' 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows the Finance Authority of Maine to make more than 3 loans or loan 
repayment agreements annually under the Maine Dental Education Loan Program if 
funds permit.