1.__Membership.__The subcommittee consists of 5 members, as follows:

A.__A dental hygienist who is a member of the board;

B.__Two dental hygienists, appointed by the Governor, who are qualified pursuant to subchapter 6, are legal residents of the State and have practiced in the State for at least 6 years immediately preceding appointment; and

C.__Two dentists who are members of the board, appointed by the president of the board.

The subcommittee shall annually elect a chair and a secretary.

2. Terms.__Each of the 3 members of the subcommittee who also are members of the board shall serve on the subcommittee for the duration of that member's term on the board.__The term of a member of the subcommittee who is not a member of the board is 5 years.

3.__Duties.__The subcommittee shall perform an initial review of all applications for licensure as a dental hygienist pursuant to section 1097, all submissions relating to continuing education of dental hygienists pursuant to section 1098-B and all submissions relating to public health supervision status of dental hygienists as defined by board rule.__Upon completion of its review of an application or submission, the secretary of the subcommittee shall report to the board the subcommittee's recommended disposition of the application or submission, including issuance, renewal, denial or nonrenewal of a dental hygienist license.__Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1098, the board shall adopt the subcommittee's recommended disposition of an application or submission unless no fewer than 2/3 of the board members who are present and voting vote to reject that recommended disposition.

4.__Compensation.__The members of the subcommittee are entitled to compensation according to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 379.__Expenses of the subcommittee members must be certified by the secretary of the board.

Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §1084, as amended by PL 2003, c. 285, §1, is further amended to read: