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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

FL Lawmakers Add $2 Million to Budget for Oral Health, Education

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Friday, May 5, 2023   

The Florida Legislature votes today on the state budget, the only bill the Florida Constitution requires that it pass.

The record $117 billion budget includes $2 million in recurring funding to promote oral health and support students studying dentistry. The funding is to implement a Dental Student Loan Repayment Program, to encourage graduating dentists to practice in Florida and serve low-income patients in rural and underserved areas.

Joe Anne Hart, chief legislative officer for the Florida Dental Association, called the funding a "win-win" because those who graduate with an average $300,000 in student loan debt can now tap into to receiving $50,000 a year to repay their loans, up to five years of participating in the program.

"This would be an opportunity for them to start practicing and not have to worry about that obligation of repaying that loan," she said, "and still being able to help those in need in underserved communities."

Florida is one of only five states that hasn't had a Dental Student Loan Repayment Program. Another 500,000 in the budget would support the 2024 Florida Mission of Mercy, an annual two-day dental event by the Florida Dental Association Foundation to provide treatment for people who lack access to dental care.

Hart said the Florida Mission of Mercy, which is held in a different city each year, has so far provided more than 13,000 patients with donated dental care valued at more than $13 million. She said the Foundation has operated and funded the program on its own, and is now thankful to receive some state support.

"It is a free event for those that are getting the services, but as you know, providing the care isn't free," she said. "So the funding will go towards building costs, material costs, you know, equipment, all the things that will be needed to set up that temporary dental clinic."

The American Children's Campaign said in a statement that dental-care "access for children is dire as it is for adults," and noted that the Florida Dental Association has identified dental-care shortage areas in 66 of Florida's 67 counties. Gov. Ron DeSantis has final approval of the budget line-item details.


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