Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §12302, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. NN, §2 and affected by §4 and enacted by c. 496, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

1.__Establishment.__The Maine Dental Education Loan Program, referred to in this chapter as the "loan program," is established.__The authority shall administer the loan program.__ Under this loan program, the chief executive officer shall award up to 3 loans or loan repayment agreements annually up to an aggregate of 12.__As provided in subsection 3:

A. Loans are available to Maine residents enrolled in a dental school; or

B.__A loan repayment agreement is available to a person who is eligible for licensure as a doctor of dental medicine in the State and who has outstanding dental education loans.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §12302, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. NN, §2 and affected by §4 and enacted by c. 496, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

3.__Eligibility.__The following persons are eligible to participate in the loan program:

A.__Applicants under subsection 1, paragraph A who meet eligibility criteria established by rule of the authority, which at a minimum must require:

(1)__That the student be a Maine resident;

(2)__That the student be enrolled in a dental school; and

(3)__That priority be given to a student:

(a)__Who previously received a loan pursuant to this section;

(b)__Who exhibits financial need; and

(c)__Who demonstrates an interest in serving an underserved population area; and

B.__Applicants under subsection 1, paragraph B who meet eligibility criteria established by rule of the authority, which at a minimum must require: