Bill No.: SF0047 Drafter: JWL

LSO No.: 06LSO-0258 Effective Date: 7/1/2006

Enrolled Act No.: SEA0025

Chapter No.: 118

Prime Sponsor: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee

Catch Title: Health care provider loan repayments.

Subject: Amends physician/dentist and allied health care provider loan repayment programs.

Summary/Major Elements:  The Department of Health administers a student loan repayment program for physicians and dentists and another for allied health practitioners. This act changes the programs to:

· Require the department, in administering the program, to consult with appropriate licensing boards and professional associations instead of the department advisory council;

· Authorize repayment of undergraduate as well as post-graduate loans;

· Specifically include speech-language pathologists among eligible allied health care providers;

· Remove a local matching funds requirement for allied health care provider loan repayments;

· Grant priority to graduates of Wyoming colleges.

Comments:

Appropriations/Positions:

· $3 Million from budget reserve account for the physician/dentist program;

· $2 Million from budget reserve account for the allied health care provider program;

· $93,000 from general fund and one position to Department of Health to administer the programs.