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Amend the bill in section 1 in §1094-AA in the first line (page 1, line 4 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "hygiene"
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1094-AA in the first paragraph in the 2nd line (page 1, line 6 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "hygiene" and inserting the following: 'hygiene'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1094-AA in the first paragraph in the 4th line (page 1, line 8 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "hygiene" and inserting the following: 'hygiene'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1094-AA in subsection 1 in the 2nd line (page 1, line 12 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "qualifies" and inserting the following: 'qualifiesqualify'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1094-AA by striking out all of subsection 2-A (page 1, lines 25 to 38 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘2-A.  Education program standards and requirements.     The applicant must have successfully completed a dental therapy education program and have been awarded a Bachelor of Science degree or higher in a dental therapy education program that:
 
A.  Is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation or a successor organization approved by the board; or
 
B. Meets the requirements for dental therapy education programs adopted by the board.’
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1094-AA by striking out all of subsection 4 (page 2, lines 7 to 12 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘4. Examination.   HasThe applicant must have passed a comprehensive, competency-based clinical examination approved by the board and administered independently of an institution providing dental hygiene therapy education and hashave passed an examination of the applicant's knowledge of Maine laws and rules relating to the practice of dentistry. An applicant who fails the clinical examination twice may not take the clinical examination again until further education and training, as specified by the board, are obtained; and.’
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1094-AA by striking out all of subsection 5 (page 2, lines 13 to 19 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘5. Supervised clinical practice.   HasThe applicant must have completed at least 2 years and 2,000 hours of supervised clinical practice under the supervision of a dentist licensed under this chapter and in conformity with rules adopted by the board, during which supervised clinical practice the applicant holds a provisional dental hygiene therapy license pursuant to section 1094-BB. For purposes of meeting the requirements of this subsection, an applicant's hours of supervised clinical experience while enrolled in the  4-semester dental training therapy education program may be included.’
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1094-AA by striking out all of subsection 6 (page 2, lines 20 to 28 in L.D.)
Amend the bill in section 2 by striking out all of §1094-BB (page 2, lines 31 to 39 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘§ 1094-BB.Provisional dental therapy license
The board shall issue a provisional dental hygiene therapy license to an applicant for licensure under this subchapter who has met the requirements of section 1094-AA, subsections 1 to 4 and rules adopted by the board and who has paid a fee established by the board of not more than $175. During the period of provisional licensure, which may not exceed 3 years, the applicant shall maintain in good standing the applicant's license to practice as a dental hygienist or an independent practice dental hygienist. During the period of provisional licensure the applicant may be compensated for services performed as a dental hygiene therapist.’
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1094-FF in the first paragraph in the first line (page 3, line 4 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "completion of" the following: 'at least 2 years and'
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1094-FF in the first paragraph in the 2nd line (page 3, line 5 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "hygiene" and inserting the following: 'hygiene'
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1094-FF in the first paragraph in the 2nd to last line (page 3, line 18 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "hygiene" and inserting the following: 'hygiene'
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 4 and 5 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §1094-GG, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 575, §7, is amended to read:
A dental hygiene therapist may practice only under the directgeneral supervision of a dentist who is licensed in this State, referred to in this subchapter as "the supervising dentist," and through a written practice agreement signed by both parties. For the purposes of this section, a written practice agreement is a signed document that, in conformity with the legal scope of practice provided in section 1094-HH, outlines the functions that the dental hygiene therapist is authorized to perform. A dental hygiene therapist may practice only under the standing order of a dentist, may provide only care that follows written protocols and may provide only services that the dental hygiene therapist is authorized to provide by that dentist. A dentist may not supervise more than 5 dental therapists.
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §1094-HH, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 575, §7, is amended to read:
A dental hygiene therapist may provide the care and services listed in this section and may provide them only under the directgeneral supervision of a dentist licensed in this State. A dental hygiene therapist practicing under general supervision of a dentist may perform all duties of a dental hygiene therapist listed in rules adopted by the board. A dental hygiene therapist who is licensed as a dental hygienist may perform all of the duties of a dental hygienist under this chapter. A dental hygiene therapist who is licensed as an independent practice dental hygienist may perform all of the duties of an independent practice dental hygienist. A dental hygiene therapist may:
Sec. 6. Maine Revised Statutes amended; revision clause.  Wherever in the Maine Revised Statutes the words "dental hygiene therapist" appear or reference is made to those words, they are amended to read or mean, as appropriate, "dental therapist" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes.
Sec. 7. Maine Revised Statutes amended; revision clause.  Wherever in the Maine Revised Statutes the words "dental hygiene therapy" appear or reference is made to those words, they are amended to read or mean, as appropriate, "dental therapy" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee:
1. Changes the term "dental hygiene therapist" to "dental therapist";
2. Eliminates the provision of the bill that moves dental therapist examination requirements to the statutory subsection on education requirements;
3. Eliminates the provision of the bill that allows licensure of dental therapists by endorsement;
4. Limits the number of dental therapists that a single dentist may supervise;
5. Corrects a cross-reference;
6. Requires that an applicant for a dental therapy license engage in at least 2 years and 2,000 hours of supervised clinical practice; and
7. Clarifies that a dental therapist must practice under the general supervision of a dentist.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)