Sec. 11. 32 MRSA §9854, sub-§3, ķA, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 524, is amended to read:

A. A dental hygienist licensed under chapter 16, subchapter IV 135;

Sec. 12. 32 MRSA c. 135 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 135

BOARD OF LICENSURE OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS

§15301.__Membership; appointment; vacancies; removal;

nominations; compensation

The Board of Licensure of Dental Hygienists, established by Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 10-A and in this chapter called "the board," consists of 5 members, appointed by the Governor as follows:__four members of the dental hygienist profession and one representative of the public.

1.__Membership.__A person who has been convicted of a violation of the provisions of this chapter or who has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year's imprisonment is not eligible for appointment to the board. The Governor may remove a member of the board on proven charges of inefficiency, incompetence, immorality or unprofessional conduct.

2.__Dental hygienists.__In order to be eligible for appointment to the board, a dental hygienist must be qualified pursuant to section 15308, must be a legal resident of the State and must have practiced in the State for at least 6 years immediately preceding appointment.__The term of a dental hygienist on the board is 5 years. The Governor may accept nominations from the Maine Dental Hygienists Association and from other organizations and individuals before the appointment of a dental hygienist to the board.

3.__Public member.__The public member of the board is appointed to a 5-year term.

4.__Compensation. The members of the board are entitled to compensation according to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 379.__Expenses of the board members must be certified by the secretary-treasurer of the board.