Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1079, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 669, §3, is amended to read:

3. Duties. The subcommittee shall perform an initial review of all applications for licensure as a dental hygienist pursuant to section 1097, all submissions relating to continuing education of dental hygienists pursuant to section sections 1098-B and 1099 and all submissions relating to public health supervision status of dental hygienists as defined by board rule. Upon completion of its review of an application or submission, the secretary of the subcommittee shall report to the board the subcommittee's recommended disposition of the application or submission, including issuance, renewal, denial or nonrenewal of a dental hygienist license. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1098, the board shall adopt the subcommittee's recommended disposition of an application or submission unless no fewer than 2/3 of the board members who are present and voting vote to reject that recommended disposition.

Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1099, as amended by PL 2003, c. 669, §11, is further amended to read:

§1099. Endorsement

The board may at its discretion, without examination, issue a license to an applicant to practice dental hygiene who furnishes proof satisfactory to the board that the dental hygienist has been duly licensed for at least 3 years to practice in another state or a Canadian province after full compliance with the requirements of its dental laws, except that the professional education may not be less than is required in this State. The board may require letters of reference as to ability. Applicants for licensure by endorsement who meet the requirements of this section must be interviewed in person by the board or members of the board Subcommittee on Dental Hygienist Submissions, as established in section 1079 prior to being issued a license. Every license so given must state upon its face that it was granted on the basis of endorsement. The fee for that license must be determined by the board, but may not be more than $175.

SUMMARY

This bill allows dental hygienists to be endorsed to practice in this State if they have practiced in another state or province of Canada for at least 3 years. This matches the endorsement for dentists. It requires the hygienist to be