DENTAL ASST. FEE WAIVER FOR VETERANS                                                    H.B. 5248:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5248 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Gail Haines

House Committee:  Military and Veterans Affairs

Senate Committee:  Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to require the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to waive the application processing and license fees required for an initial license to practice as a dental assistant if the applicant, while on active duty as a member of the armed forces, served as a military dental specialist and were separated from service with an honorable character of service or under honorable conditions (general) character of service.

The Code requires an individual seeking licensure as a dental assistant to pay a $10 application processing fee and a license fee of $10 per year, a temporary license fee of $5, or a limited license fee of $5 per year. To be eligible for a fee waiver under the bill, an applicant would have to give LARA a Form DD214, Form DD215, or any other form that was satisfactory to the Department. The bill would take effect on the 91^st day after it was enacted.

MCL 333.16323                                                       Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a minor, but negative fiscal impact on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. On an individual basis, depending on the type of license applied for (regular, temporary, or limited), the exemption would cost LARA $25 or $40, as dental assistant licenses are valid for three years.

Based on the total number of Michigan residents, and the number of veterans, who are between the ages of 25 and 65, it is estimated that approximately 6.2% of people in Michigan between the ages of 25 and 65 are veterans. According to LARA, as of January 2, 2014, there were 1,653 dental assistants licensed in Michigan. Assuming that veterans are as likely to become dental assistants as the population in general, approximately 102 individuals in Michigan are both veterans and dental assistants. However, the discharge status and whether the individuals served as military dental specialists is unknown, so it is difficult to estimate how many of the estimated 102 would be eligible under the bill. Finally, the percentage of these licenses that were initial licenses is also unknown. In total, it is likely that very little revenue would be lost due to the proposed fee exemption.

The bill also would introduce some minor administrative costs to LARA, which would likely have to revise its application forms to include an area for applicants to indicate whether they met the criteria for exemption. The Department also would have to allocate staff time to verify any exemption requests that it received.

Date Completed:  9-10-14                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.