Resolve, To Increase Access to Dental Care in Rural Areas through Encouraging Distance Learning for Dental Hygienist Training

Sec. 1. Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Licensing and Registration, Board of Dental Examiners directed to establish a new dental hygienist licensing category. Resolved: That the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Licensing and Registration, Board of Dental Examiners is directed to establish a new dental hygienist licensing category that will accept alternative educational instruction programs, including qualified distance learning programs, instructional television networks and nontraditional clinical instructors, with the goal of providing students in distant locations across the State access to the training required to be a licensed dental hygienist. The Board of Dental Examiners shall establish the qualifications and scope of practice for this new licensing category, which must include 2 years of experience as a dental assistant, as well as sponsorship from a licensed Maine dentist; and be it further

Sec. 2. Reporting date established. Resolved: That the Board of Dental Examiners shall report on its progress in establishing the new licensing category under section 1, along with any proposed legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development by February 1, 2010. The Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development is authorized to submit legislation on this new licensing category to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.

SUMMARY

This resolve requires the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Licensing and Registration, Board of Dental Examiners to establish a new dental hygienist licensing category that will accept alternative educational instruction programs, including qualified distance learning programs, instructional television networks and nontraditional clinical instructors, with the goal of providing students in distant locations across the State access to the training required to be a licensed dental hygienist. The Board of Dental Examiners is required to establish the qualifications and scope of practice for this new licensing category, which must include 2 years of experience as a dental assistant as well as sponsorship from a licensed Maine dentist. This resolve also requires the Board of Dental Examiners to report on its progress in establishing the new licensing category to the Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development by February 1, 2010. The joint standing committee is authorized to submit legislation related to this report.