Florida Senate - 2018                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 764
       
       
       
       
       
       
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                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
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       Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education (Bean)
       recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment 
    2  
    3         Delete lines 50 - 74
    4  and insert:
    5  repayment program to benefit Florida-licensed dentists who
    6  demonstrate, as required by department rule, active employment
    7  in a public health program that serves Medicaid recipients and
    8  other low-income patients and is located in a dental health
    9  professional shortage area or a medically underserved area.
   10         (3) The department shall award funds from the loan program
   11  to repay the student loans of a dentist who meets the
   12  requirements of subsection (2).
   13         (a) An award may not exceed $50,000 per year per eligible
   14  dentist.
   15         (b) Only loans to pay the costs of tuition, books, dental
   16  equipment and supplies, uniforms, and living expenses shall be
   17  covered.
   18         (c) All repayments shall be contingent upon continued proof
   19  of eligibility and shall be made directly to the holder of the
   20  loan. The state shall bear no responsibility for the collection
   21  of any interest charges or other remaining balances.
   22         (d) A dentist is eligible to receive funds under the loan
   23  program for at least 1 year, up to a maximum of 5 years.
   24         (e) The department shall limit the number of new dentists
   25  participating in the loan program to no more than 10 per fiscal
   26  year.
   27         (4) A dentist is no longer eligible to receive funds under
   28  the loan program if the dentist:
   29         (a) Is no longer employed by a public health program that
   30  meets the requirements of subsection (2).
   31         (b) Ceases to participate in the Florida Medicaid program.
   32         (c) Has disciplinary action taken against his or her
   33  license by the Board of Dentistry for a violation of s. 466.028.
   34         (5) The department shall adopt rules to administer the loan