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An Act To Allow the Independent Practice of Dental Hygiene
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1073, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 107, §4, is further amended to read:
 
2. Rules.   Adopt rules in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act that are necessary for the implementation of this chapter. The rules may include, but need not be limited to, requirements for licensure, requirements for dental hygienists engaging in independent practice, interviews for licensing and renewal, continuing education, inactive licensure status, use of general anesthesia and fees for providing a list of addresses of licensed professionals upon request;
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1095,  as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §79, is further amended to read:
§ 1095. Definition
The dental hygienist who practices under the supervision of a dentist of record, or independently, may perform duties as defined and set forth in the rules of the Board of Dental Examiners, except that nothing in this subchapter may be construed to affect the practice of medicine or dentistry or to prevent students of a dental college, university or school of dental hygiene from practicing dental hygiene under the supervision of their instructors.
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §1098-F  is enacted to read:
§ 1098-F.   Independent practice
A dental hygienist may practice independently and perform duties as defined and set forth in the rules adopted by the board. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows dental hygienists to practice independently and perform duties as defined by the Board of Dental Examiners.