S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2339--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 16, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER, McDONALD, STECK, KAY, SHIMSKY, SAYEGH,
ANGELINO, HAWLEY, CHANG, SEMPOLINSKI, PALMESANO, ROSENTHAL, ZACCARO,
LUNSFORD, ROMERO, LEMONDES, SIMPSON, KASSAY, BURROUGHS -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Health -- recommitted to the Commit-
tee on Health in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to providing for
dentist loan repayment and practice support
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 5-a of section 2807-m of the public health law
is amended by adding two new paragraphs (c-1) and (d-1) to read as
follows:
(C-1) DENTIST LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM. UP TO ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH STATE FISCAL YEAR FOR THE NEXT THREE FISCAL YEARS
BEGINNING ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE SET
ASIDE AND RESERVED BY THE COMMISSIONER FROM THE REGIONAL POOLS ESTAB-
LISHED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION AND SHALL BE AVAIL-
ABLE FOR PURPOSES OF DENTIST LOAN REPAYMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVI-
SION TEN-A OF THIS SECTION. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY CONTRARY PROVISION OF
THIS SECTION, SECTIONS ONE HUNDRED TWELVE AND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE OF
THE STATE FINANCE LAW, OR ANY OTHER CONTRARY PROVISION OF LAW, SUCH
FUNDING SHALL BE ALLOCATED REGIONALLY WITH ONE-THIRD OF AVAILABLE FUNDS
GOING TO NEW YORK CITY AND TWO-THIRDS OF AVAILABLE FUNDS GOING TO THE
REST OF THE STATE AND SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED IN A MANNER TO BE DETERMINED
BY THE COMMISSIONER WITHOUT A COMPETITIVE BID OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
PROCESS AS FOLLOWS:
(I) FUNDING SHALL FIRST BE AWARDED TO REPAY LOANS OF UP TO EIGHT
DENTISTS WHO TRAIN IN GENERAL OR PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY IN TEACHING GENERAL
HOSPITALS, INCLUDING IN COMMUNITY CLINIC SETTINGS OWNED BY OR AFFILIATED
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05960-05-6
A. 2339--A 2
WITH SUCH HOSPITALS, AND WHO ENTER AND REMAIN IN GENERAL OR PEDIATRIC
DENTISTRY PRACTICES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AS DETERMINED BY THE
COMMISSIONER.
(II) AFTER DISTRIBUTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS
PARAGRAPH, ALL REMAINING FUNDS SHALL BE AWARDED TO REPAY LOANS OF
DENTISTS WHO ENTER AND REMAIN IN GENERAL OR PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY PRAC-
TICES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DENTISTS WORKING IN GENERAL HOSPITALS,
OTHER HEALTH CARE FACILITIES OR QUALIFIED PRIVATE PRACTICES.
(III) IN NO CASE SHALL LESS THAN FIFTY PERCENT OF THE FUNDS AVAILABLE
PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH BE DISTRIBUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBPARA-
GRAPHS (I) AND (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH TO DENTISTS IDENTIFIED BY GENERAL
HOSPITALS.
(D-1) DENTIST PRACTICE SUPPORT. UP TO THREE MILLION DOLLARS FOR EACH
FISCAL YEAR FOR THE NEXT THREE FISCAL YEARS BEGINNING ON OR AFTER THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE SET ASIDE AND RESERVED BY THE
COMMISSIONER FROM THE REGIONAL POOLS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
TWO OF THIS SECTION AND SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURPOSES OF DENTIST PRAC-
TICE SUPPORT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY CONTRARY PROVISION OF THIS SECTION,
SECTIONS ONE HUNDRED TWELVE AND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE OF THE STATE
FINANCE LAW, OR ANY OTHER CONTRARY PROVISION OF LAW, SUCH FUNDING SHALL
BE ALLOCATED REGIONALLY WITH ONE-THIRD OF AVAILABLE FUNDS GOING TO NEW
YORK CITY AND TWO-THIRDS OF AVAILABLE FUNDS GOING TO THE REST OF THE
STATE AND SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED IN A MANNER TO BE DETERMINED BY THE
COMMISSIONER WITHOUT A COMPETITIVE BID OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS
AS FOLLOWS:
(I) PREFERENCE IN FUNDING EIGHT AWARDS, TO SUPPORT COSTS INCURRED BY
DENTISTS TRAINED IN GENERAL OR PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY IN TEACHING GENERAL
HOSPITALS, INCLUDING IN COMMUNITY CLINIC SETTINGS OWNED BY OR AFFILIATED
WITH SUCH HOSPITALS, WHO THEREAFTER ESTABLISH OR JOIN PRACTICES IN
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
(II) AFTER DISTRIBUTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS
PARAGRAPH, ALL REMAINING FUNDS SHALL BE AWARDED TO DENTISTS TO SUPPORT
THE COST OF ESTABLISHING OR JOINING PRACTICES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNI-
TIES, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER, AND TO HOSPITALS AND OTHER
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO RECRUIT NEW DENTISTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
(III) IN NO CASE SHALL LESS THAN FIFTY PERCENT OF THE FUNDS AVAILABLE
PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH BE DISTRIBUTED TO GENERAL HOSPITALS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SUBPARAGRAPHS (I) AND (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
§ 2. Section 2807-m of the public health law is amended by adding two
new subdivisions 10-a and 13 to read as follows:
10-A. DENTIST LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM. (A) BEGINNING UPON THE START OF
THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED, WITHIN AMOUNTS AVAILABLE
PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FIVE-A OF THIS SECTION, TO MAKE LOAN REPAYMENT
AWARDS TO GENERAL OR PEDIATRIC DENTISTS OR OTHER DENTISTRY SPECIALTIES
DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO BE IN SHORT SUPPLY, LICENSED TO PRAC-
TICE DENTISTRY IN NEW YORK STATE, WHO AGREE TO PRACTICE FOR AT LEAST
THREE YEARS IN AN UNDERSERVED AREA, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
(B) LOAN REPAYMENT AWARDS MADE TO A DENTIST PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A)
OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL QUALIFYING OUTSTANDING
DEBT OF THE DENTIST FROM STUDENT LOANS TO COVER TUITION AND OTHER
RELATED EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES, MADE BY OR GUARANTEED BY THE FEDERAL OR
STATE GOVERNMENT, OR MADE BY A LENDING OR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
A. 2339--A 3
APPROVED UNDER TITLE IV OF THE FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATION ACT. LOAN
REPAYMENT AWARDS SHALL BE USED SOLELY TO REPAY SUCH OUTSTANDING DEBT.
(C) IN THE EVENT THAT A THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT PURSUANT TO THE AGREE-
MENT REFERENCED IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION IS NOT FULFILLED,
THE RECIPIENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAYMENT IN AMOUNTS WHICH SHALL
BE CALCULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMULA SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION
(B) OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR-O OF TITLE FORTY-TWO OF THE UNITED
STATES CODE, AS AMENDED.
(D) THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO APPLY ANY FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR
PURPOSES OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION FOR USE AS MATCHING FUNDS
FOR FEDERAL GRANTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING STATES IN OPERATING LOAN
REPAYMENT PROGRAMS PURSUANT TO SECTION THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT I OF
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.
(E) THE COMMISSIONER MAY POSTPONE, CHANGE OR WAIVE THE SERVICE OBLI-
GATION AND REPAYMENT AMOUNTS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPHS (A) AND (C),
RESPECTIVELY OF THIS SUBDIVISION IN INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THERE
IS COMPELLING NEED OR HARDSHIP.
(F) (I) WHEN A DENTIST IS NOT ACTUALLY PRACTICING IN AN UNDERSERVED
AREA, SUCH DENTIST SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE PRACTICING IN AN UNDERSERVED
AREA IF SUCH DENTIST PRACTICES IN A FACILITY OR DENTIST'S OFFICE THAT
PRIMARILY SERVES AN UNDERSERVED POPULATION AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMIS-
SIONER, WITHOUT REGARD TO WHETHER THE POPULATION OR THE FACILITY OR
DENTIST'S OFFICE IS LOCATED IN AN UNDERSERVED AREA.
(II) IN MAKING CRITERIA AND DETERMINATIONS AS TO WHETHER AN AREA IS AN
UNDERSERVED AREA OR WHETHER A FACILITY OR DENTIST'S OFFICE PRIMARILY
SERVES AN UNDERSERVED POPULATION, THE COMMISSIONER MAY MAKE SEPARATE
CRITERIA AND DETERMINATIONS FOR DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES.
13. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, APPLICATIONS
SUBMITTED FOR THE DENTIST LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH
(C-1) OF SUBDIVISION FIVE-A OF THIS SECTION AND SUBDIVISION TEN-A OF
THIS SECTION OR THE DENTIST PRACTICE SUPPORT PROGRAM PURSUANT TO PARA-
GRAPH (D-1) OF SUBDIVISION FIVE-A OF THIS SECTION, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO
THE FOLLOWING:
(A) AWARDS SHALL BE MADE FROM THE TOTAL FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR NEW
AWARDS UNDER THE DENTIST LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM AND THE DENTIST PRACTICE
SUPPORT PROGRAM, WITH NEITHER PROGRAM LIMITED TO A SPECIFIC FUNDING
AMOUNT WITHIN SUCH TOTAL FUNDING AVAILABLE;
(B) AN APPLICANT MAY APPLY FOR AN AWARD FOR EITHER DENTIST LOAN REPAY-
MENT OR DENTIST PRACTICE SUPPORT, BUT NOT BOTH;
(C) AN APPLICANT SHALL EITHER: (I) AGREE TO PRACTICE FOR THREE YEARS
IN AN UNDERSERVED AREA AND EACH AWARD SHALL PROVIDE UP TO FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS FOR EACH OF THE THREE YEARS; OR (II) AGREE TO PRACTICE AS A
DENTIST ENGAGED IN PRIVATE PRACTICE IN AN UNDERSERVED AREA AND EACH
AWARD SHALL PROVIDE UP TO SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH OF THE THREE
YEARS; AND
(D) TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, AWARDS SHALL BE TIMED TO BE OF USE FOR
JOB OFFERS MADE TO APPLICANTS.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to
have been in full force and effect on and after the start of the next
fiscal year beginning on or after such effective date.