Sec. 16. 32 MRSA §1100-O, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §99, is further amended to read:

1. Term of license; renewal. All licenses to practice dental radiography issued by the board are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance and may be renewed upon application to the board and payment of a renewal fee, which may not exceed $50 $125.

Sec. 17. 32 MRSA §1100-S is enacted to read:

§1100-S.__Mental or physical examination

For the purposes of this section, by application for and acceptance of a license to practice, a licensed dental radiographer is considered to have given consent to a mental or physical examination when directed by the board.__The board may direct a dental radiographer to submit to an examination whenever the board determines the dental radiographer may be suffering from a mental illness that may be interfering with the competent practice of dental radiography or from the use of intoxicants or drugs to an extent that they are preventing the dental radiographer from practicing dental radiography competently and with safety to patients.__A dental radiographer examined pursuant to an order of the board may not prevent the testimony of the examining individual or prevent the acceptance into evidence of the report of an examining individual.__Failure to comply with an order of the board to submit to a mental or physical examination results in the immediate suspension of the license of the dental radiographer by order of the District Court until the dental radiographer submits to the examination.

Sec. 18. Existing members. The dentist members of the Board of Dental Examiners holding office on the effective date of this Act hold office as members of the board for the terms for which they were appointed. The first dentist board member position that expires after the effective date of this Act is terminated upon expiration. Upon termination of the dentist board member position, the dental hygienist board member position created pursuant to this Act is established.

Sec. 19. Denturist scope of practice and sunrise review. The Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation shall, pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, chapter 1-A, subchapter 2, conduct an independent assessment concerning expansion of the scope of practice of denturists under Title 32, section 1100-B to include fabrication and insertion of partial dentures and dentures over implants. The commissioner shall