An Act To Strengthen Efforts To Recruit and Retain Primary Care Professionals and Dentists in Rural and Underserved Areas of the State
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1287
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: JACKSON, WARD, CARPENTER, CHENETTE, CUSHING, DAVIS, DOW, SEAVEY, STANLEY, TIPPING
Amends: 36 MRSA §5219-D, 36 MRSA §5219-L

Legislative Document
No. 1287
S.P. 439
In Senate, April 4, 2017
An Act To Strengthen Efforts To Recruit and Retain Primary Care 
Professionals and Dentists in Rural and Underserved Areas of the 
State
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Representative WARD of Dedham and
Senators: CARPENTER of Aroostook, CHENETTE of York, CUSHING of Penobscot, 
DAVIS of Piscataquis, DOW of Lincoln, Representatives: SEAVEY of Kennebunkport, 
STANLEY of Medway, TIPPING of Orono.
Printed on recycled paper
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  36 MRSA §5219-DD, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 434, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Credit.  An eligible dentist determined to be eligible before January 1, 2012 is 
allowed a credit for each taxable year, not to exceed $15,000, against the taxes due under 
this Part.  For dentists An eligible dentist determined to be eligible on or after January 1, 
2012, an eligible dentist but before January 1, 2017 is allowed a credit for each taxable 
year, not to exceed $12,000, against the taxes due under this Part.  An eligible dentist 
determined to be eligible on or after January 1, 2017 but before January 1, 2022 is 
allowed a credit, not to exceed $6,000 in the first year, $9,000 in the 2nd year, $12,000 in 
the 3rd year, $15,000 in the 4th year and $18,000 in the 5th year, against the taxes due 
under this Part.  The credit may be claimed in the first year that the eligible dentist meets 
the conditions of eligibility for at least 6 months and each of the 4 subsequent years.  The 
credit is not refundable. 
Sec. 2.  36 MRSA §5219-DD, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 434, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
3.  Eligibility limitation; certification.  The oral health program shall certify up to 5 
eligible dentists in each year in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and, up to 6 additional eligible 
dentists in each year from 2012 through 2015 and up to 5 eligible dentists in each year 
from 2017 through 2021.  Additional dentists may not be certified after 2015 2021.  The 
oral health program shall monitor certified dentists to ensure that they continue to be 
eligible for the credit under this section and shall decertify any dentist who ceases to meet 
the conditions of eligibility.  The oral health program shall notify the bureau whenever a 
dentist is certified or decertified.  A decertified dentist ceases to be eligible for the credit 
under this section beginning with the tax year during which the dentist is decertified. 
Sec. 3.  36 MRSA §5219-DD, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2011, c. 434, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
6.  Repeal.  This section is repealed December 31, 2020 2026. 
Sec. 4.  36 MRSA §5219-LL, sub-§§2 and 3, as reallocated by RR 2013, c. 2, 
§46, are amended to read: 
2.  Credit.  For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014 but before January 1, 
2019, an eligible primary care professional is allowed a credit against the taxes due under 
this Part as follows. 
A.  The credit may be claimed in the first year that the eligible primary care 
professional meets the conditions of eligibility for at least 6 months and each of the 4 
subsequent years or until the student loan of the eligible primary care professional is 
paid in full, whichever comes first. 
B.  The credit may be claimed in an amount equal to the annual payments made on 
the student loan not to exceed $6,000 in the first year, $9,000 in the 2nd year, 
$12,000 in the 3rd year, $15,000 in the 4th year and $18,000 in the 5th year. 
C.  The credit may not reduce the tax due under this Part to less than zero. 
3.  Eligibility limitation; certification.  The Department of Health and Human 
Services shall certify up to 5 10 eligible primary care professionals each year.  The 
Department of Health and Human Services shall monitor certified primary care 
professionals to ensure that they continue to be eligible for the credit under this section 
and shall decertify any primary care professional who ceases to meet the conditions of 
eligibility.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall notify the bureau 
whenever a primary care professional is certified or decertified.  A decertified primary 
care professional ceases to be eligible for the credit under this section beginning with the 
tax year during which the primary care professional is decertified.  
SUMMARY 
This bill extends through 2026 the income tax credit for eligible dentists who practice 
in underserved areas.  With respect to the primary care access credit, the bill increases the 
number of primary care professionals who practice in underserved areas who may be 
certified for the credit and allows the credit for primary care professionals to remain in 
effect beyond January 1, 2019.