§ 20-A §12302 — Maine Dental Education Loan Program

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:
2.
Application process.
Application must be made directly to the authority.
3.
Eligibility.
The following persons are eligible to participate in the program:
4.
Maximum amount.
The maximum loan or loan repayment amount available to each participant is $20,000 per year for a period of up to 4 years. For a loan recipient who receives a first loan after January 1, 2020 or a loan repayment participant who signs a first agreement after January 1, 2020, the maximum loan or loan repayment amount available is $25,000 per year for a period of up to 4 years.
5.
Loan agreement; forgiveness.
A student applying under subsection 1, paragraph A shall enter into a loan agreement as set out in this subsection.
6.
Loan repayment agreement.
An applicant under subsection 1, paragraph B shall enter into a loan repayment agreement as set out in this subsection.
7.
Default.
A loan recipient who agrees to practice in an underserved population area and who fails to complete the period of service required to pay off the loan is liable to the authority for an amount equal to the sum of the total amount paid by or on behalf of the authority to or on behalf of the recipient under the contract plus interest at a rate determined by the authority. Credit for practice in an underserved population area will be awarded for each consecutive 12-month period served. Exceptions may be made by the authority in accordance with subsection 8.
8.
Deferments.
Deferments on the repayment of a loan under the program may be granted for causes established by rule of the authority. Interest at a rate to be determined by rule of the authority must be assessed during the deferment. The student's total debt to the authority, including principal and interest, must be repaid either through return service or cash payments. The chief executive officer shall make determinations of deferment on a case-by-case basis. The decision of the chief executive officer is final.

Legislative History

PL 1999, c. 401, §NN2 (NEW). PL 1999, c. 401, §NN4 (AFF). PL 1999, c. 496, §2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 510, §E1 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 397, §A17 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 8, §1 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 102, §§3-5 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 130, §§1-3 (AMD).