EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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SENATE BILL 334
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By: Senator Klausmeier
Introduced and read first time: January 12, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Higher Education – Maryland Dent–Care Program – Eligibility 2
FOR the purpose of expanding eligibility for the Maryland Dent–Care Program to include 3
part–time dentists and dental hygienists who are practicing under a general or 4
limited license; authorizing the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the 5
Maryland Higher Education Commission , in collaboration with the Maryland 6
Department of Health, to establish prorated loan repayment assistance for part–time 7
dentists and dental hygienists; and generally relating to eligibility for the Maryland 8
Dent–Care Program. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Education 11
Section 18–2404 and 18–2406 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
BY adding to 15
Article – Education 16
Section 18–2405(c)(3) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLA ND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
Article – Education 22
18–2404. 23
Each applicant for a Higher Education Loan Assistance Grant under this subtitle 24
shall: 25 2 SENATE BILL 334
(1) Be licensed to practice in Maryland by the State Board of Dental 1
Examiners UNDER A: 2
(I) GENERAL LICENSE ; OR 3
(II) LIMITED LICENSE ; 4
(2) Demonstrate financial need; 5
(3) Be employed full time OR PART TIME as a dentist or dental hygienist; 6
(4) Agree that at least 30% of the patients treated by the dentist or in the 7
practice in which the dental hygienist works each year for a 3–year period in a private 8
practice or clinical setting will be Maryland Medical Assistance Program recipients; and 9
(5) Meet any other criteria established by the Office. 10
18–2405. 11
(c) (3) THE OFFICE, IN COLLABORATION WIT H THE MARYLAND 12
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, MAY ESTABLISH PRORAT ED LOAN REPAYMENT 13
ASSISTANCE FOR A PART –TIME DENTIST OR PART –TIME DENTAL HYGIENIS T 14
PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. 15
18–2406. 16
Each recipient of a Higher Education Loan Assistance Grant under this subtitle may 17
hold the grant for up to 3 years if the recipient: 18
(1) Continues to be employed full time OR PART TIME as a dentist or 19
dental hygienist; and 20
(2) Continues to treat Maryland Medical Assistance Program recipients as 21
at least 30% of all patients treated: 22
(i) By the dentist in a private practice or clinical setting authorized 23
under the Program; or 24
(ii) In the private practice or clinical setting in which the dental 25
hygienist works. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER EN ACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 27
1, 2024. 28