An Act To Conform Maine Law to the Requirements of the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1514
Committee Amendment CA_A_H593 (House)
Amends: 32 MRSA §1094-G, 32 MRSA §1094-H

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1037, L.D. 1514, Bill, "An Act To 
Conform Maine Law to the Requirements of the American Dental Association 
Commission on Dental Accreditation" 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 1094-AA in the first line (page 1, line 4 in L.D.) by 
striking out the following: "hygiene" 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 1094-AA in the first paragraph in the 2nd line (page 
1, line 6 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "hygiene" and inserting the following: 
'hygieH:e' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 1094-AA in the first paragraph in the 4th line (page 1, 
line 8 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "hygiene" and inserting the following: 
'hygieH:e' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 1094-AA in subsection 1 in the 2nd line (p.age 1, line 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "qualifies" and inserting the following: 
'qualifies qualify' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 1094-AA by striking out all of subsection 2-A (page 
1, lines 25 to 38 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'2-A. Education program standards and requirements. The applicant must have 
successfully completed a dental therapy education program and have been awarded a 
Bachelor of Science degree or higher in a dental therapy education program that: 
A. 
Is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental 
Accreditation or a successor organization approved by the board; or 
B. Meets the requirements for dental therapy education programs adopted by the 
board.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 1094-AA by striking out all of subsection 4 (page 2, 
lines 7 to 12 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'4. 
Examination. 
Has- The applicant must have passed a comprehensive, 
competency-based clinical examination approved by the board and administered 
Page I -127LR2414(02)-l 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~C:J 
~o 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A" to H.P. 1037, L.D. 1514 
independently of an institution providing dental hygiene therapy education and has have 
passed an examination of the applicant's knowledge of Maine laws and rules relating to 
the practice of dentistry. An applicant who fails the clinical examination twice may not 
take the clinical examination again until further education and training, as specified by 
the board, are obtained;-aru(' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 1094--AA by striking out all of subsection 5 (page 2, 
lines 13 to 19 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'5. Supervised clinical practice. Has The applicant must have completed at least 2 
years and 2,000 hours of supervised clinical practice under the supervision of a dentist 
licensed under this chapter and in conformity with rules adopted by the board, during 
which supervised clinical practice the applicant holds a provisional dental hygiene 
therapy license pursuant to section 1094--BB. For purposes of meeting the requirements 
of this subsection, an applicant's hours of supervised clinical experience while enrolled in 
the 4 semester dental training therapy education program may be included.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 1094--AA by striking out all subsection 6 (page 2, 
lines 20 to 28 in L.D.) 
Amend the bill in section 2 by striking out all of§ 1094--BB (page 2, lines 31 to 39 in 
L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'§1094--BB. Provisional dental therapy license 
The board shall issue a provisional dental hygiene therapy license to an applicant for 
licensure under this subchapter who has met the requirements of section 1094--AA, 
subsections 1 to 4 and rules adopted by the board and who has paid a fee established by 
the board of not more than $175. During the period of provisional licensure, which may 
not exceed 3 years, the applicant shall maintain in good standing the applicant's license to 
practice as a dental hygienist or an independent practice dental hygienist. During the 
period of provisional licensure the applicant may be compensated for services performed 
as a dental hygiene therapist.' 
Amend the bill in section 3 in § 1094--FF in the first paragraph in the first line (page 3, 
line 4 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "completion of' the following: 'at least 2 
years and' 
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1094--FF in the first paragraph in the 2nd line (page 3, 
line 5 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "hygiene" and inserting the following: 
'hjrgiene' 
Amend the bill in section 3 in § 1094--FF in the first paragraph in the 2nd to last line 
(page 3, line 18 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "hygiene" and inserting the 
following: 'hv2'iene' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 4 and 5 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §1094-GG, first ,r, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 575, §7, is 
amended to read: 
A dental hygiene therapist may practice only under the direst general supervision of a 
dentist who is licensed in this State, referred to in this subchapter as "the supervising 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
·,,~-.' 
8'° 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1037, L.D. 1514 
dentist," and through a written practice agreement signed by both parties. 
For the 
purposes of this section, a written practice agreement is a signed document that, in 
conformity with the legal scope of practice provided in section 1094-HH, outlines the 
functions that the dental hygiene therapist is authorized to perform. A dental hygiene 
therapist may practice only under the standing order of a dentist, may provide only care 
that follows written protocols and may provide only services that the dental hygiene 
therapist is authorized to provide by that dentist. A dentist may not supervise more than 5 
dental therapists. 
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §1094-HH, first ~' as enacted by PL 2013, c. 575, §7, is 
amended to read: 
A dental hygiene therapist may provide the care and services listed in this section and 
may provide them only under the direst general supervision of a dentist licensed in this 
State. A dental hygiene therapist practicing under general supervision of a dentist may 
perform all duties of a dental hygie0e therapist listed in rules adopted by the board. A 
dental hygiene therapist who is licensed as a dental hygienist may perform all of the 
duties of a dental hygienist under this chapter. A dental hygiene therapist who is licensed 
as an independent practice dental hygienist may perform all of the duties of an 
independent practice dental hygienist. A dental hygiene therapist may: 
Sec. 6. Maine Revised Statutes amended; revision clause. 
Wherever in the 
Maine Revised Statutes the words "dental hygiene therapist" appear or reference is made 
to those words, they are amended to read or mean, as appropriate, "dental therapist" and 
the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or 
republishing the statutes. 
Sec. 7. Maine Revised Statutes amended; revision clause. 
Wherever in the 
Maine Revised Statutes the words "dental hygiene therapy" appear or reference is made 
to those words, they are amended to read or mean, as appropriate, "dental therapy" and 
the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or 
republishing the statutes.' 
· 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee: 
1. Changes the term "dental hygiene therapist" to "dental therapist"; 
2. 
Eliminates the provision of the bill that moves dental therapist examination 
requirements to the statutory subsection on education requirements; 
3. Eliminates the provision of the bill that allows licensure of dental therapists by 
endorsement; 
4. Limits the number of dental therapists that a single dentist may supervise; 
5. Corrects a cross-reference; 
6. Requires that an applicant for a dental therapy license engage in at least 2 years 
and 2,000 hours of supervised clinical practice; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~':, 
~o 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to H.P. 1037, L.D. 1514 
7. Clarifies that a dental therapist must practice under the general supervision of a 
dentist. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~~-· 
Revised: 03/17/16 
;k?ac:.. 
LD 1514 
LR2414(02) 
An Act To Conform Maine Law to the Requirements of the American Dental Association Commission 
on Dental Accreditation 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment •;4-1 ( ~ 
- 513) 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Board of Dental Examiners, affiliated with the Department of Professional and Financial 
Regulation, to amend the rules associated with the licensing and practice requirements for dental therapists can be 
absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2414(02)- Fiscal Note - Page I of I