UPDATE ON SELF-REGULATION LEGISLATION
February 26, 2010 |
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The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee voted 16 to 1 last week to refer to interim study HB 1593 - establishing a board of dental hygienists. While there was merit seen in the proposal, there was simply not enough time under legislative deadlines to address fiscal and other issues raised by Committee members. We want to express a sincere thank you to our bill sponsors and supporters, and members of the ED&A licensing subcommittee for all their hard work in the last few weeks! Real progress has been made!
The 16 to 1 ED&A Committee recommendation will go to the House floor on March 3rd for a vote:
HB 1593-FN, establishing a board of dental hygienists. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY.
Rep. Carol M. McGuire for Executive Departments and Administration: This bill would amend RSA 317-A:7 to create a governing committee for hygienists as part of the board of dental examiners. A totally separate board, although funded by hygienists' licensing fees, creates a fiscal impact inappropriate at a time we are consolidating regulatory boards, not splitting them. The committee is convinced that hygienists need separate governance to advance the profession, and that employer-employee issues complicate the professional regulations. The language will be clarified in interim study. Vote 16-1.
NHDHA looks forward to working with the interim study committee, legislators, healthcare advocates and providers, to move self-regulation forward for 2011.
Susanne Kuehl, President
New Hampshire Dental Hygienists' Association |
