Wisconsin AB 665: Relating to: scholarships for Marquette University School of Dentistry students who practice in dental health shortage areas. (FE)

Bill Text

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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 665
November 13, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives SAPIK, KURTZ, OLDENBURG,
DITTRICH, TUSLER, SUMMERFIELD, PLUMER, NOVAK, SNYDER, PENTERMAN,
VANDERMEER, CALLAHAN, MELOTIK, DONOVAN and ZIMMERMAN, cosponsored by
Senators TESTIN, FEYEN and WIRCH. Referred to Committee on Health, Aging
and Long-Term Care.
AN ACT to amend 39.465 (title), 39.465 (1) (a), 39.465 (1) (d), 39.465 (2), 39.465
(3) (a), 39.465 (3) (b) and 39.465 (4); and to create 39.465 (1) (b) and 39.465 (1)
(e) of the statutes; relating to: scholarships for Marquette University School
of Dentistry students who practice in dental health shortage areas.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill modifies a scholarship awarded by the Higher Educational Aids Board
so that it applies to students enrolled in the Marquette University School of
Dentistry (MUSD).
Current law requires HEAB, in consultation with the Department of Health
Services, to establish a scholarship program for state residents who enter into an
agreement with HEAB to practice in a health shortage area in this state upon
graduation (eligible student). HEAB may award an annual scholarship for each year
of an eligible student's enrollment, up to four years, and the eligible student must
agree to practice in a health shortage area for 18 months for each annual scholarship
the student receives. If the student fails to meet this obligation, the student must
repay the scholarships based on a specified calculation.
This bill makes changes to the program so that it applies only to students
enrolled in MUSD who agree to practice dentistry in a dental health shortage area
for 18 months for each annual scholarship received. The bill defines a “dental health
shortage area” as an area that is federally designated as having a shortage of dental
professionals, not including the counties of Brown, Dane, Kenosha, Milwaukee, and
Waukesha. Under the bill, HEAB may award to no more than 15 MUSD students
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ASSEMBLY BILL 665
an annual scholarship of $30,000 per year for up to four years. A student who fails
to meet his or her obligation to practice in a dental health shortage area for the
requisite period must repay the scholarships in the manner required under current
law.
The bill also requires HEAB to provide MUSD $350,000 annually for the
development and operation of programs to support the recruitment and training of
students in rural dentistry.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 39.465 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
39.465 (title) Scholarship Dentistry scholarship program.
SECTION 2. 39.465 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
39.465 (1) (a) “Actual practice total” is the total number of months that a
student upon graduation practices dentistry in a dental health shortage area in this
state. For purposes of this paragraph, a fraction of a month is counted as one month.
SECTION 3. 39.465 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
39.465 (1) (b) “Dental health shortage area” has the meaning given in s. 36.60
(1) (ad), except that “dental health shortage area” does not include an area in the
county of Brown, Dane, Kenosha, Milwaukee, or Waukesha.
SECTION 4. 39.465 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
39.465 (1) (d) “Required practice total” means the total number of months a
student upon graduation is required under sub. (3) to practice dentistry in a dental
health shortage area in this state.
SECTION 5. 39.465 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
39.465 (1) (e) “School” means the Marquette University School of Dentistry.
SECTION 6. 39.465 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
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SECTION 6 ASSEMBLY BILL 665
39.465 (2) SCHOLARSHIPS. In consultation with the department of health
services, the board shall establish a program for awarding to no more than 15
students at the school an annual scholarship, including a stipend, equal to $30,000
for each year of a student's enrollment but not exceeding 4 years. The board shall
pay the scholarships from the appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (dg). From
the appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (dg), the board shall also provide the
school $350,000 annually for the development and operation of programs to support
the recruitment and training of students in rural dentistry.
SECTION 7. 39.465 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
39.465 (3) (a) A student is not eligible for a scholarship under the program
established under sub. (2) unless he or she is a resident of the state and enters into
an agreement with the board in which he or she agrees upon graduation to practice
dentistry in a dental health shortage area in this state