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Volume 1, No. 54, March 24, 2020

States Respond to COVID-19 Outbreak
 
Given the rapidly changing landscape of responses to COVID-19, it can be difficult to keep track of all the decisions being made at various levels of government. Fortunately, the National Conference of State Legislatures [ [link removed] ] (NCSL) and the National Governors Association [ [link removed] ] (NGA) have assembled some great resources to help us all stay up to date.
 
According to NGA, all states have declared either a state emergency or a public health emergency [ [link removed] ] . While the specifics of such a declaration can mean different things in each state, this type of declaration generally allows states to enact emergency plans and can make funds available for actions taken to address the emergency. The chart on NGA’s website provides some specifics of emergency plans that have an impact on everyday life. According to NGA, at the time of writing, at least 21 states have implemented restrictions on state employee travel, and at least 36 have implemented or are at least recommending restrictions on gatherings of people. The chart also provides information about decisions to close schools, as well as requirements for closure of non-essential business.
 
While NGA provides an overview of actions taken by governors, NCSL has assembled several resources to provide an overview of actions taken by state legislatures. At the time of writing, at least 17 states have suspended or ended legislative sessions [ [link removed] ] to comply with social distancing recommendations due to COVID-19. At least 12 states have enacted special funding measures [ [link removed] ] , and many have pending legislation that would allocate additional funding to response measures. Some states have also enacted legislation that applies to institutions of higher education. Maryland, for example, sent a bill to Gov. Larry Hogan (R) that would require public institutions of higher education to submit an outbreak response plan to the Maryland Department of Health on or before Aug. 1 each year, beginning in 2021. Finally, NCSL has also provided tracking for all of the legislation proposed or enacted [ [link removed] ] in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
 
AGR will continue to provide updates as responses further develop.

Trump Administration to Waive Student Loan Interest Amid COVID-19 Crisis
 
President Trump declared that he would waive student loan interest [ [link removed] ] in an effort to provide student loan relief to Americans during the COVID-19 crisis.
 
A waiver would stop interest from adding up, and that could eventually reduce the overall amount owed over the lifetime of the loan. But it won’t immediately lower the amount a borrower owes each month, unless the servicers are told to recalculate each monthly payment—which is usually divided between paying down the principal and the interest.
 
An administration official later stated that the waiver would likely be in the form of an executive order. However, questions [ [link removed] ] about the waiver remain, such as how long would the waiver last? Would interest be capitalized at the end of the waiver period?
 
Capitalization of interest at the end of the waiver period would likely increase the total amount owed on the loan. At the time of writing, the U.S. Department of Education had not released any details on the waiver.

Democrats Introduce Bill to Support K-12 and Higher Education Students Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
 
Last week, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Education and Labor, and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Health Education, Labor and Pensions, introduced “The Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act.” The legislation would allow schools to reopen more quickly by covering costs of sanitization and emergency staffing needs. It also will ensure schools can provide students critical services, such as meals, access to technology and mental health services. The bill also establishes increased flexibility for students with student loan obligations.
 
There are provisions in the legislation that, if passed, would be helpful to colleges and universities. It includes:
 1. The creation of a $1.2-billion mandatory fund for emergency financial aid to students in higher education. This would help address students’ basic needs created or exacerbated by unexpected college closures and COVID-19-related disruptions, including food, housing, health care and child care needs. These grants will also support the one-time purchase of laptops and the establishment of a reliable internet connection to close the digital divide at colleges that switch to online learning formats.
 2. A temporary waiver of “Return of Title IV” rules, which will provide an exemption for students paying back Pell Grants or repaying student loans that were taken out for a disrupted term.
 3. The relaxing of certain financial aid rules related to satisfactory academic progress, Pell Grant lifetime eligibility and subsidized loans.
 4. New flexibility for foreign institutions of higher education serving American students abroad through distance education to ensure students are not disrupted by outbreaks in other countries.

Though this legislation has only been introduced and is not law, the prospects for at least some of the above provisions to become law is strong. Text and bill numbers are not yet available, but a bill fact sheet can be found here [ [link removed] Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act Fact Sheet.pdf ] .

Kentucky Board of Dentistry Proposes Requirements for Teledentistry
 
The Kentucky Board of Dentistry has proposed an administrative regulation [ [link removed] ] that establishes requirements for the use of teledentistry. The proposed regulation would establish a definition of teledentistry, which licensed professionals may conduct, and procedures that must be followed when performing teledentistry. Written comments on the proposal will be accepted through March 31.

Florida Bill Makes Changes Impacting Dental Practices, Ends Suspension of Licenses for Health Care Practitioners Who Default on Student Loans
 
On March 16, the Florida Legislature voted in favor of a bill [ [link removed] ] that, if signed into law, makes many changes to laws governing the licensure and practice of health professionals. Several of the changes apply specifically to oral health professionals and are summarized below:
 • Under the bill, an employee or independent contractor of a dental laboratory would be authorized to engage in onsite consultations with a dentist during a dental procedure, if such person is acting as an agent of the dental laboratory. If the bill becomes law, Florida would be the first state to allow this practice.
 • The bill also requires the Florida Department of Health (DOH) to biennially inspect dental laboratories, rather than annually.
 • The bill repeals a requirement that a Florida-licensed dentist grade the American Dental Licensing Examination, and that either a Florida-licensed dentist or dental hygienist grade a Dental Hygienist Examination produced by the American Board of Dental Examiners.
 • The bill also requires all licensed dentists to report adverse incidents that occur in their office in writing, within 48 hours, to the DOH and the State Board of Dentistry. The dentist would also be required to file a complete report with the Board of Dentistry within 30 days.
 • All certified dental hygienists who hold a certificate to administer local anesthesia would be required to notify the Board of Dentistry in writing, within 48 hours of an adverse incident that was related to or the result of the administration of local anesthesia. The dental hygienist would also be required file a complete report with the Board of Dentistry within 30 days.
 • The bill also establishes a process for DOH to review each adverse incident reported by a dentist or dental hygienist.
 • The legislation also reestablishes laws that create a program known as Health Access Dental Licenses. This program allows out-of-state dentists who meet specified requirements to provide services in specific settings that traditionally assist underserved patients. The Health Access Dental License program had sunset at the beginning of the year.
 • Finally, the bill also eliminates a requirement that the license of a health care professional be suspended in the event the licensee defaults on a government-backed student loan.

ADEA State Calendar [ [link removed] ]

ADEA Washington Calendar [ [link removed] ]

ADEA U.S. Interactive Legislative and Regulatory Tracking Map [ [link removed] ]

Key Federal Issues [ [link removed] ]

Key State Issues [ [link removed] ]

The ADEA Advocate [ [link removed] ] is published weekly. Its purpose is to keep ADEA members abreast of federal and state issues and events of interest to the academic dentistry and the dental and research communities.
 
©2020
American Dental Education Association
655 K Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20001
202-289-7201, adea.org [ [link removed] ]

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B. Timothy Leeth, CPA
ADEA Chief Advocacy Officer
 
Bridgette DeHart, J.D.
ADEA Director of Federal Relations
 
Phillip Mauller, M.P.S.
ADEA Director of State Relations and Advocacy
 
Brian Robinson
ADEA Program Manager for Advocacy and Government Relations
 
Ambika R. Srivastava, M.P.H.
ADEA/Sunstar Americas, Inc./Jack Bresch Legislative Intern
 
[email protected] [ mailto:[email protected]?subject=State%20Update%3A%20 ]

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