HP0697, LD 937, item 1, An Act To Increase Access to Dental Care in Rural Areas

An Act To Increase Access to Dental Care in Rural Areas

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 32 MRSA c. 16, sub-c. 3-C is enacted to read:

SUBCHAPTER 3-C

LIMITED PRACTICE DENTAL HYGIENIST

§ 1094-U. Limited practice dental hygienist

The Board of Dental Examiners shall issue a limited practice dental hygienist license to an individual who meets licensure requirements established by the board.

1. Qualifications. The board by rule shall establish licensure requirements for a limited practice dental hygienist license that include educational requirements that may be met through any course of study approved by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor organization that:

A. Allows distance learning with instruction from qualified practitioners;

B. Includes nontraditional clinical instruction and clinical training as a dental assistant with a licensed dentist; and

C. Involves a number of credit hours equivalent to a 2-year full-time program.

2. Scope of license. A limited practice dental hygienist license allows a person to provide nontherapeutic, limited preventative care, as established by the board by rule.

3. Fees; license. An application for a limited practice dental hygienist license must be accompanied by a fee to be determined by the board not to exceed $175. The board shall issue a license to practice as a limited practice dental hygienist in this State to an individual who has met the licensure requirements. The license must be exhibited publicly at the person's place of employment. The license authorizes practice as a limited practice dental hygienist in this State for the year in which it is issued until the expiration date that appears on the license. On or before January 1st of each odd-numbered year, the limited practice dental hygienist must pay to the board a license renewal fee of not more than $175, to be determined by the board. A limited practice dental hygienist who has not paid the renewal fee on or before January 1st must be reinstated upon payment of a late fee of not more than $50, to be determined by the board, if paid before February 1st of the year in which license renewal is due. Failure to be properly licensed by February 1st results in automatic suspension of a limited practice dental hygienist license. Reinstatement may be made, if approved by the board, by payment to the board of a fee determined by the board of not more than $175. A new applicant who has paid the application fee shall pay the biennial licensure fee if the applicant applies in an odd-numbered year or half the biennial licensure fee if the applicant applies in an even-numbered year.

An applicant for a duplicate license granted upon proof of loss of the original shall pay a fee of $15.

4. Rules. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

summary

This bill establishes a limited practice dental hygienist license that allows a person to provide nontherapeutic, limited preventative care. Qualifications for this license may be met through any course of study approved by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor organization that allows distance learning with instruction from qualified practitioners, includes nontraditional clinical instruction and clinical training as a dental assistant with a licensed dentist and involves a number of credit hours equivalent to a 2-year full-time program.

HP0697 LD 937	First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature		LR 960 Item 1
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