38.34 Funding to expand the oral health care workforce.

680 words·~3 min read·/wi/chapter-38/38-34-3

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1)In this section, “eligible expenditures” means any of the following:

(a)Capital expenditures, such as expenditures for equipment or facility improvements or expansion.

(b)Expenditures for instructional supplies, teaching materials and resources, consumables, or clinic fees.

(c)Instructor bonuses if the requirements in sub.

(3)are satisfied.

(a)In the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, the board, in coordination with district boards, may submit to the joint committee on finance a request for funding in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, in a total amount not exceeding $20,000,000, for district board programs to expand the state’s oral health care workforce. Subject to par.

(b)and sub.

(5), the request for funding shall include a plan that identifies each district board that requests funding, the amount of funding the district board requests, and a detailed description of the eligible expenditures for which the requested funding would be used.

(b)The plan under par.

(a)shall include requests for all of the following:

1. For the district board of Northcentral Technical College, up to $2,000,000 to expand current dental hygienist and dental assistant programs and for development of a dental therapy program if dental therapy becomes an authorized dental practice.

2. For any district board that offers a dental hygienist program on February 2, 2024, other than the district board of Northcentral Technical College, up to $1,430,000.

3. For any district board that offers no dental program or only a dental assistant program on February 2, 2024, up to $1,000,000 to create a new program or expand the existing program.

(c)The requirement under par.

(b)does not preclude a request for funding in the plan of any additional amount for a district board for a purpose permissible under sub.

(5).

(a)Funding provided by the board to a district board under this section may be used to pay newly hired instructors a hiring bonus not exceeding $5,000 per instructor if all of the following apply:

1. The instructor is hired into a position that is at least a 0.5 full-time equivalent position.

2. The instructor’s work responsibilities require the instructor to devote an amount of time at least equal to a 0.5 full-time equivalent position teaching courses in an oral health care program.

3. The district board provides matching funding for the bonus in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of the funds provided under this subsection.

4. The instructor agrees in writing to continue employment with the district board for at least 3 years in a position that satisfies the requirements in subds. 1. and 2.

5. The district board commits to pay the retention bonus under sub.

(4), from funds other than the grant awarded under this section, if the conditions in sub.

(4)are satisfied.

6. The instructor was not employed by the district board, or by any other district board, at any time in the 75-day period immediately preceding February 2, 2024.

1. The agreement under par.

(a)4. shall specify that, except as provided in subds. 2. to 4. , if the instructor discontinues employment with the district board less than 3 years after the instructor’s first day of employment, the instructor is required to repay the hiring bonus as follows:

a. All of the bonus if the term of employment was less than one year.

b. Two-thirds of the bonus if the term of employment was at least one year but less than 2 years.

c. One-third of the bonus if the term of employment was at least 2 years but less than 3 years.

2. If the instructor discontinues employment with the district board to begin employment with a different district board, in a position that is at least a 0.5 full-time equivalent position, as an instructor in an oral health care program, the repayment requirement under subd. 1. does not apply and the 3-year period under par.

(a)4. continues in effect from the instructor’s first day of employment with the district board that paid the hiring bonus.