(2)__A representative of an office of primary health care.

3.__Vacancies.__In the case of a vacancy or resignation, an appointment must be made as for a new member to fill the vacancy until the expiration of the term.

4.__Terms.__The term of office for all appointees is 2 years.

§12107.__Rules

The authority shall establish rules necessary to implement this chapter.__The Commissioner of Human Services shall develop rules for determining underserved populations, underserved areas and underserved specialties.__These rules must include a process for ensuring guaranteed access to dental care through technical assistance and site visits to participating providers.__The rules authorized by this section must be adopted in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II.__Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes the Maine Dental Education Loan Program. Under the program, the Finance Authority of Maine will award loans to Maine residents who have been accepted into dental school. If, upon completing dental education, the loan recipient elects to practice dentistry in an area determined to be underserved, the loan recipient may be forgiven a portion of the loan.

This bill also establishes a nonlapsing fund that may be used to recruit licensed dentists to serve in underserved areas by repaying portions of the dentists' education loans.