SB70-AA7,19,23 36.61 (1) (b) (intro.) “Health care provider" means a any of the following:

SB70-AA7,19,24 1. A dental hygienist,.

SB70-AA7,20,1 2. A physician assistant, .

SB70-AA7,20,2 3. A nurse-midwife, or.

SB70-AA7,20,3 4. A nurse practitioner.

SB70-AA7,39 Section 39. 36.61 (1) (b) 5., 6. and 7. of the statutes are created to read:

SB70-AA7,20,5 36.61 (1) (b) 5. A medical assistant.

SB70-AA7,20,6 6. A dental assistant.

SB70-AA7,20,7 7. A dental auxiliary.

SB70-AA7,40 Section 40. 36.61 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA7,20,11 36.61 (1) (c) “Medical assistant” means an individual who has received a medical assistant technical diploma from a technical college under ch. 38 or who has successfully completed the national certification examination for medical assistants.

SB70-AA7,41 Section 41. 36.61 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 36.61 (2) (a) and amended to read:

SB70-AA7,20,18 36.61 (2) (a) The Except as provided in par. (b), the board may repay, on behalf of a health care provider, up to $25,000 in educational loans obtained by the health care provider from a public or private lending institution for education related to the health care provider's field of practice, as determined by the board with the advice of the council.

SB70-AA7,42 Section 42. 36.61 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA7,20,21 36.61 (2) (b) For a health care provider that is a medical assistant, the board's repayment under par. (a) may not exceed $12,500.

SB70-AA7,43 Section 43. 36.61 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA7,21,4 36.61 (3) (a) The board shall enter into a written agreement with the health care provider. In the agreement, the health care provider shall agree to practice at least 32 clinic hours per week for 3 years in one or more eligible practice areas in this state or in a rural area, except that a health care provider in the expanded loan assistance program under sub. (8) who is not a dental hygienist, dental assistant, or dental auxiliary may only agree to practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health professional shortage area.

SB70-AA7,44 Section 44. 36.61 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA7,21,10 36.61 (3) (b) The agreement shall specify that the responsibility of the board to make the payments under the agreement is subject to the amount of funds transferred to the board under s. 20.505 (8) (hm) 6r., the contributions received and penalties assessed by the board, and the appropriation appropriations under s. 20.285 (1) (br) and (qj).

SB70-AA7,45 Section 45. 36.61 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 36.61 (4) (am), and 36.61 (4) (am) (intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:

SB70-AA7,21,15 36.61 (4) (am) (intro.) Principal Except as provided in par. (bm), principal and interest due on loans, exclusive of any penalties, may be repaid by the board at the following rate:

SB70-AA7,46 Section 46. 36.61 (4) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA7,21,19 36.61 (4) (bm) For a health care provider that is a medical assistant, principal and interest due on loans, exclusive of any penalties, may be repaid by the board at the following rate:

SB70-AA7,21,21 1. Up to 40 percent of the principal of the loan or $5,000, whichever is less, during the first year of participation in the program under this section.

SB70-AA7,21,24 2. Up to an additional 40 percent of the principal of the loan or $5,000, whichever is less, during the 2nd year of participation in the program under this section.

SB70-AA7,22,3 3. Up to an additional 20 percent of the principal of the loan or $2,500, whichever is less, during the 3rd year of participation in the program under this section.

SB70-AA7,47 Section 47. 36.61 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA7,22,8 36.61 (5) (a) The obligation of the board to make payments under an agreement entered into under sub. (3) is subject to the amount of funds transferred to the board under s. 20.505 (8) (hm) 6r., the contributions received and penalties assessed by the board, and the appropriation appropriations under s. 20.285 (1) (br) and (qj).

SB70-AA7,48 Section 48. 36.61 (5) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: