An Act To Improve Oral Health Care for Maine's Children

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6451, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is amended to read:

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §6451, sub-§4  is enacted to read:

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §6454,  as enacted by PL 2005, c. 653, §1, is amended to read:

§ 6454. Oral health assessments and screenings

The commissioner shall cooperate with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services in implementing a grant program developed in accordance with Title 22, section 2128 to implement the requirements of section 6451 with regard to oral health screening and to increase the provision of oral health assessments or screenings for children entering elementary school. A child whose parent objects in writing to an oral health assessment or screening on religious grounds may not be assessed or screened.

SUMMARY

This bill expands health screening in schools to include oral health screening. The bill requires oral health screening for students prior to entering kindergarten and for new students to a school district entering grades 1 to 6 and periodically thereafter. The bill coordinates oral health screening done under the new requirement with oral health screening done through a grant program with the Department of Health and Human Services under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6454 and Title 22, section 2128.