Bill No.: SF0045                  Drafter:  JWL

LSO No.:  07LSO-0355              Effective Date:  2/23/2007

Enrolled Act No.:  SEA0042

Chapter No.:       103

Prime Sponsor:     Joint Labor, Health and Soc. Serv. Interim Comm.

Catch Title:       Dental student loan repayment program.

Subject:  Authorizes new tuition payment program for dentists.

Summary/Major Elements:  This act:

· Authorizes the University of Wyoming to implement a program for payment of dentists' tuition expenses, similar to the WWAMI program for physicians;

· Provides for UW to enter into agreements with dental schools at Creighton University, the University of Nebraska or other out-of-state schools for the dental education of Wyoming residents;

· Establishes residency requirements for admission to the dental education program, which is capped at 40 students at any one time;

· Establishes participation requirements for students, including agreement to practice as a dentist in Wyoming for three years after licensure or to repay all amounts expended by the state, with interest at the federal student loan rate (but capped at 8%);

· Requires participating dentists to treat patients who are eligible for Medicaid or the Child and Parent Health Insurance Program;

· Authorizes a hardship waiver to the service/repayment requirement;

· Creates a Dentistry School Student Account for operation of the program, with expenditures limited to interest earnings from the account;

· Appropriates $500,000 from the general fund to UW for expenses related to contract negotiations, contract administration and recruitment of undergraduate students for the program.

Comments:

· Reports Required:

o UW to provide an implementation progress report to the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee ("JLHSS") by October 1, 2007;

o UW to report to JLHSS by October 1 of each year on earnings to and expenditures from the Dentistry School Student Account;

o UW to report annually to JLHSS on loan forgiveness in the dental program.