Sec. 9. 32 MRSA §1098-B, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §84, is further amended to read:

§1098-B. Continuing education

As a condition of renewal of a license to practice, a dental hygienist must submit evidence of successful completion of 20 30 hours of continuing education consisting of board-approved courses in the 2 years preceding the application for renewal. The board and the dental hygienist shall follow and are bound by the provisions of section 1084-A in the implementation of this section.

Sec. 10. 32 MRSA §§1098-C and 1098-D are enacted to read:

§1098-C.__Mental or physical examination

For the purposes of this section, by application for and acceptance of a license to practice, a licensed dental hygienist is considered to have given consent to a mental or physical examination when directed by the board.__The board may direct a dental hygienist to submit to an examination whenever the board determines the dental hygienist may be suffering from a mental illness that may be interfering with the competent practice of dental hygiene or from the use of intoxicants or drugs to an extent that they are preventing the dental hygienist from practicing dental hygiene competently and with safety to patients.__A dental hygienist 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 hygienist by order of the District Court until the dental hygienist submits to the examination.

§1098-D.__Licensure requirements for graduates of accredited

programs