An Act to Increase Access to Oral Health Care by Expanding the Maine Dental Education Loan Program
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1256
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MASTRACCIO, GROHOSKI, CLUCHEY, CRAVEN, CROCKETT, MEYER, ROBERTS, STOVER, WHITE
Amends: 20-A MRSA §12302

Legislative Document
No. 1256
H.P. 804
House of Representatives, March 21, 2023
An Act to Increase Access to Oral Health Care by Expanding the 
Maine Dental Education Loan Program
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MASTRACCIO of Sanford.
Cosponsored by Senator GROHOSKI of Hancock and
Representatives: CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham, CRAVEN of Lewiston, CROCKETT of 
Portland, MEYER of Eliot, ROBERTS of South Berwick, STOVER of Boothbay, WHITE of 
Waterville.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §12302, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 8, §1, is further 
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 for doctors of dental medicine 
and up to 6 loans or loan repayment agreements annually for dental hygienists, dental 
therapists, expanded function dental assistants or dental assistants 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 enrolled in any 
accredited school in a program of study for dental hygienists, dental therapists, 
expanded function dental assistants or dental assistants; or
B.  A loan repayment agreement is available to a person who is eligible for licensure 
as a doctor of dental medicine or as a dental hygienist, dental therapist, expanded 
function dental assistant or dental assistant in Maine and who has outstanding dental 
education loans.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §12302, sub-§3, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 2005, c. 
397, Pt. A, §17, is amended by amending subparagraph (2) to read:
(2)  That the student be enrolled in a dental school or in any accredited school with 
a program of study for dental hygienists, dental therapists, expanded function 
dental assistants or dental assistants; and
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §12302, sub-§3, ¶B, as repealed and replaced by PL 2005, c. 
397, Pt. A, §17, is amended by amending subparagraph (1) to read:
(1)  That the applicant be eligible for licensure to practice dental medicine or as a 
dental hygienist, dental therapist, expanded function dental assistant or dental 
assistant in Maine;
SUMMARY
This bill expands eligibility for the Maine Dental Education Loan Program to include 
dental hygienists, dental therapists, expanded function dental assistants and dental 
assistants.