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An Act To Allow Qualified, Licensed Denturists To Practice to the Level of Their Educational Training
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §1100-B, sub-§1-A  is enacted to read:
 
1-A.  Denture.   "Denture" means any removable full or partial upper or lower prosthetic dental appliance to be worn in the human mouth to replace any missing natural teeth.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1100-B, sub-§3, ¶A, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §88, is further amended to read:
 
A.  The taking of denture impressions and bite registration for the purpose of or with a view to the making, producing, reproducing, construction, finishing, supplying, altering or repairing of a complete upper or complete lower prosthetic denture , or both to be fitted to an edentulous or partially edentulous arch or arches;
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §1100-B, sub-§3, ¶B, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §88, is further amended to read:
 
B.  The fitting of a complete upper or lower prosthetic denture , or both, to an edentulous or partially edentulous arch or arches, including the making, producing, reproducing, constructing, finishing, supplying, altering and repairing of dentures, without performing alteration to natural or reconstructed tooth structure. Upon the receipt of a written statement of oral condition or oral health certificate as determined by the board by a licensed dentist, a denturist may complete clinical procedures related to the fabrication of a removable tooth-borne partial denture, including cast frameworks; and
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §1100-D, sub-§2-A, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 590, §6, is amended to read:
 
B. A person is eligible to take the examination if that person:
 
(1) Is a high school graduate or has obtained high school equivalency; and
 
(2) Has a diploma from a board-approved denturism postsecondary institution or, until September 30, 2009, has completed an equivalent denturist educational program approved by the board.
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §1100-E, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1995, c. 590, §7, is further amended to read:
 
2. License issued. The board shall issue a license for the practice in this State to each person who has passed an examination under section 1100-D. This license authorizes the licensee to practice as a denturist in the State until the expiration date that appears on the license. Beginning October 1, 2009, the board shall require, in addition to passage of the examination, all applicants for licensure to have a diploma and be graduates of a board-approved denturism postsecondary institution. Denturists licensed in this State prior to October 1, 2009 that do not have a diploma from a board-approved denturism postsecondary institution shall successfully complete an upgraded curriculum approved by the board before a license may be issued or renewed.
Sec. 6. Board of Dental Examiners to adopt rules; deadline for completion of upgraded curriculum. The Board of Dental Examiners shall adopt rules, which are routine technical rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A, no later than January 1, 2010 regarding the upgraded curriculum described in Title 32, section 1100-E, subsection 2. Denturists licensed in this State prior to October 1, 2009 that do not have a diploma from a board-approved denturism postsecondary institution shall successfully complete the upgraded curriculum no later than 2 years after the Board of Dental Examiners adopts rules pursuant to this section.
 
Effective September 12, 2009