Chapter 172
2013 -- S 0539 SUBSTITUTE B
Enacted 07/11/13
A N A C T
RELATING TO
BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL
HYGIENISTS
Introduced By: Senators Lynch, and McCaffrey
Date Introduced: February 28, 2013
It is enacted by the
General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 5-31.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter
5-31.1 entitled "Dentists
and Dental Hygienists" is hereby amended to read as
follows:
5-31.1-2.
Board of examiners in dentistry -- Members -- Compensation -- Funds.
--
(a) There is created within the department of health
the
dentistry, which is composed of the following members:
(1) Six (6) Eight
(8) licensed dentists;, no more
than three (3) shall be dental specialists
as recognized by the American Dental Association (
(2) Four (4) public
members not associated with the dental field;
(3) Two (2) licensed
dental hygienists; and
(4) The chief of the
office of dental public health, who shall serves serve as a
an ex-
officio member of the board; and
(5) One certified
dental assistant
(b) The governor shall
appoint the members of the board, except that prior to appointing
the six (6) eight (8) dentist members the governor
may submit a list of all candidates to the
appropriate dental societies for comments as to their
qualifications. No member shall be
appointed for more than two (2) consecutive full terms. A
member appointed for less than a full
term (originally or to fill a vacancy) may serve two (2)
full terms in addition to that part of a full
term, and a former member is again eligible for
appointment after a lapse of one or more years.
All subsequent appointments to the board shall be for
a term of three (3) years. Any member of
the board may be removed by the governor for neglect of
duty, misconduct, malfeasance, or
misfeasance in office after being given a written statement of
the charges against him or her and
sufficient opportunity to be heard on the charges. The board
shall elect director of the department
of health shall appoint from its the members a chairperson who
shall be a dentist duly licensed
under the laws of the state of
chairperson exercise all powers of the chairperson, and
secretary, who serve for one year or until
their successors are appointed and qualified. The board
shall meet at least once a month or more
often upon the call of the chairperson, director of health
or dental administrator, at any times and
places that the chairperson designates.
(c) Members of the
board shall not be paid for the discharge of official duties.
(d) The administration
of the board shall be funded from annual fees. The director shall
in consultation with the board determine the amount of
the annual fee to be charged to each
licensed dentist and dental hygienist, the payment of which is
a condition to practicing dentistry
or dental hygiene in the state. The director or the
dental administrator has the authority to suspend
or revoke the license of any dentist or dental hygienist
who does not pay the annual fee. Monies
shall be received by the department and deposited in the
general fund as general revenues.
SECTION 2. Section 5-31.1-30 of the General Laws in Chapter
5-31.1 entitled "Dentists
and Dental Hygienists" is hereby amended to read as
follows:
5-31.1-30.
Licensure required -- Dental assistants excepted. -- No person shall
perform any act, which constitutes the practice of dentistry
in this state, unless that person is
licensed under the provisions of this chapter as a dentist or
a dental hygienist, or unless that
person performs limited auxiliary dental services,
procedures, and duties as a dental assistant as
provided by this chapter. The board of examiners in
dentistry shall develop rules and procedures
to implement a listing of all dental assistants
practicing in the state.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC01492/SUB B
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