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An Act To Allow Licensed Dental Professionals To Own Dental Practices
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1081, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 620, Pt. C, §5, is further amended to read:
 
3. Proprietor.   The term proprietor, as used in this chapter, includes a person who:
 
A.  Employs dentists or dental hygienists, independent practice dental hygienists, denturists or other dental auxiliaries in the operation of a dental office;
 
B.  Places in possession of a dentist or a dental hygienist, independent practice dental hygienist or other dental auxiliary or other agent dental material or equipment that may be necessary for the management of a dental office on the basis of a lease or any other agreement for compensation for the use of that material, equipment or office; or
 
C.  Retains the ownership or control of dental equipment or material or a dental office and makes the same available in any manner for the use by dentists or dental hygienists, independent practice dental hygienists or other agents, except that nothing in this subsection applies to bona fide sales of dental equipment or material secured by a chattel mortgage or retain title agreement. A person licensed to practice dentistry may not enter into arrangements with a person who is not licensed to practice dentistry, with the exception of licensed denturists and independent practice dental hygienists, or the legal guardian or personal representative of a deceased or incapacitated dentist, pursuant to the provisions of Title 13, section 732.
 
Any licensee of the board may be a proprietor of a place where the practice of dentistry is performed.
 
SUMMARY
This bill clarifies that anyone licensed by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Board of Dental Examiners may be a proprietor of a dental practice.