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LD 703

An Act To Establish A Health Care Gap Year Program For Recent College Graduates

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Joe Baldacci and 8 co-sponsors

Create a Maine Health Care Gap Year Program to place and incentivize recent grads in high-need, rural health care roles, administered by the Dept. of Labor.

Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · LD 703

LD 703 – An Act To Establish A Health Care Gap Year Program For Recent College Graduates

Overview

LD 703 seeks to create a Health Care Gap Year Program administered by the Maine Department of Labor. The program would provide incentives for recent college graduates to work in critical health care positions, with emphasis on underserved and rural communities. The bill has been carried over and remains in the same posture for potential action in a future special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature.

  • Introduced: February 25, 2025
  • Sponsor: Rep. Rana of Bangor
  • Committee: Labor
  • Status: Carried over to a future session (SP 800)

Purpose and Intent

  • Address health care workforce gaps by attracting recent graduates into health care roles in areas with limited access.
  • Create an organized pathway (gap year) that connects graduates with critical health care openings.
  • Target underserved and rural communities to improve access to health services.

Key Provisions (as described in fiscal notes and bill summaries)

  • Establish a health care gap year program funded and administered by the Maine Department of Labor.
  • Provide incentives to recent college graduates to work in high-need health care positions.
  • Prioritize placements in underserved and rural communities to bolster access to health care services.
  • The bill’s primary policy aim is workforce development in health care, with a focus on filling positions that are critical and hard to staff.

Funding and Fiscal Impact

  • Original Fiscal Note (Document 3):
    • General Fund: One-time appropriation of $500,000 in FY 2025-26 to the Department of Labor.
    • Purpose: To support the health care gap year program and provide incentives for graduates to work in targeted health care roles.
    • Subsequent years: Estimated $0 net cost.
  • Amended Fiscal Note (Document 4, Committee Amendment "A" / H-64):
    • General Fund: $250,000 per year for FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 (two-year, one-time in each year).
    • Purpose: To support the program, with ongoing but time-limited funding in the two specified fiscal years.
    • Subsequent years: Estimated $0 net cost after FY 2026-27.
  • Practical takeaway: The amended version reduces the initial funding level and shortens the time frame for the appropriation compared to the original version.

Who Is Affected

  • State agencies:
    • Department of Labor would administer the gap year program and distribute incentives.
  • Recent college graduates:
    • The primary beneficiaries who would participate in the gap year and receive incentives to work in health care settings.
  • Health care employers in underserved and rural areas:
    • Potential placement sites for program participants.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • February 25, 2025: Introduced and referred to the Committee on Labor (after initial referral from Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services).
  • March–April 2025: Work session, committee amendments, and passage through readings (including Committee Amendment A, H-64).
  • April 29–30, 2025: Versions of the bill advanced, including actions to enactment and concurrence discussions.
  • June 25, 2025: Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature (Joint Order SP 800).

What’s Next

  • The bill remains pending and would take effect, and be implemented, if enacted in a future session. Details such as eligible positions, application processes, specific incentives (stipends, loan forgiveness, stipends, etc.), and program duration would be defined in subsequent final language or implementing regulations.

Note: The summary reflects the bill text and fiscal notes provided. The final form and specifics may change if the bill is enacted.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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