DENTISTS-LOAN REPAYMENT ASSIST Senate SponsorsSen. William R. Haine-William Delgado, Dale A. Righter, John O. Jones and Donne E. Trotter House Sponsors(Rep. Daniel V. Beiser-Renée Kosel-Mike Bost) 8/20/2007SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 95-0297 New ActCreates the Loan Repayment Assistance for Dentists Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for dentists who practice in designated shortage areas in this State for 3 years and who accept certain medical payments under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that under the program, for each year that a qualified applicant practices full time in this State in a designated shortage area as a dentist, the Department shall, subject to appropriation, award a grant to that person in an amount equal to the amount in dental school loans that the person must repay that year. Provides that the total amount in grants that a person may be awarded under the program must not exceed $25,000. Provides that the Department shall require recipients to use the grants to pay off their dental school loans. Provides that loan repayment recipients who fail to practice full time in this State for 3 years shall repay the Department a sum equal to 3 times the amount received under the program. Effective July 1, 2007.Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. Provides that the educational loan repayment assistance program is also for dental specialists; makes related changes. Changes references from "medical payments" to "dental payments". Provides that the Department of Public Health shall consider 4 applications for assistance under the program each year (instead of having no limit on the number of applications). Provides that an applicant must continue full-time practice in a designated shortage area for 2 (instead of 3) years. Makes a change concerning the maximum amount in grants that a person may be awarded. Makes changes concerning the penalty for a loan repayment recipient's failure to fulfill his or her obligation. Effective July 1, 2007. 2/7/2007SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. William R. Haine 2/7/2007SenateFirst Reading 2/7/2007SenateReferred to Rules 2/8/2007SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. William Delgado 2/21/2007SenateAssigned to Higher Education 3/2/2007SenateDo Pass Higher Education; 010-000-000 3/2/2007SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 2, 2007 3/2/2007SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Dale A. Righter 3/2/2007SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. John O. Jones 3/2/2007SenateSecond Reading 3/2/2007SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 6, 2007 3/16/2007SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. William R. Haine 3/16/2007SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules 3/21/2007SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Higher Education 3/22/2007SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Higher Education; 009-000-000 3/29/2007SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Donne E. Trotter 3/29/2007SenateRecalled to Second Reading 3/29/2007SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Haine 3/29/2007SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading 3/29/2007SenateThird Reading - Passed; 058-000-000 3/30/2007HouseArrived in House 3/30/2007HousePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading 4/2/2007HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Daniel V. Beiser 4/9/2007HouseFirst Reading 4/9/2007HouseReferred to Rules Committee 4/19/2007HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Renée Kosel 4/30/2007HouseAssigned to Higher Education Committee 5/16/2007HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 013-000-000 5/17/2007HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 5/17/2007HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mike Bost 5/22/2007HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 5/22/2007HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 5/23/2007HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 115-000-000 5/23/2007SenatePassed Both Houses 6/21/2007SenateSent to the Governor 8/20/2007SenateGovernor Approved 8/20/2007SenateEffective Date August 20, 2007 8/20/2007SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 95-0297