Jackson Falconer
TALLAHASSEE – A dental care bill that passed both Florida legislative chambers without incident was vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday, who argued that
H.B. 139 "does not place appropriate safeguards on taxpayer investments."
Filed by
Rep. Travis Cummings (R-Orange Park), the bill received unanimous support in both the House and Senate in Tallahassee. It sought to increase dental assistance in poor communities, or in towns lacking in dentists, by giving grant funding to dentists who would employ their services in those communities.
The Department of Health would have given dentists said grants, which would range from $10,000 to $100,000. In addition to paying for opening a dental practice, the grant money could also go toward dental office equipment or facilities, as well as paying off student loans for dental school. Scott said in his veto letter that dentists receiving the grant funding would not be required to fill quotas for employees hired or impoverished patients served.
Scott also said in his veto letter that other state programs, as well as County Heath Departments, Community Health Centers, already serve families in the Sunshine State with similar dental services, rendering the bill duplicative, he argued.
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