Bill > S257

This bill establishes the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, a legislative framework designed to streamline dental and dental hygiene licensing across participating states. The compact aims to expedite licensure, improve access to dental care, and facilitate professional mobility for dentists and dental hygienists while maintaining public safety. Key provisions include creating an interstate commission to oversee the compact, establishing a standardized process for obtaining a "Compact License Privilege" that allows practitioners to practice in multiple member states, and creating a centralized repository for professional documents and disciplinary records. The compact requires practitioners to meet specific qualifications, such as graduating from an accredited program, passing national examinations, and maintaining a clean professional record. It allows for joint investigations between states, automatic discipline transfer if an adverse action is taken in one state, and provides special considerations for military members and their spouses. The compact will become active once five states enact it, and each member state retains the right to regulate dental practice within its borders. Practitioners can apply for a Compact License Privilege through their home state, which will then facilitate the application process in other member states, potentially reducing bureaucratic barriers and making it easier for dental professionals to move and practice across state lines.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S257