PRINTER'S NO. 702
No. 638 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY PESCI, KUKOVICH, JAROLIN, BELFANTI, E. Z. TAYLOR,
DALEY, VEON, J. TAYLOR AND PISTELLA, MARCH 22, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MARCH 22, 1993
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.216, No.76), entitled "An
2 act relating to dentistry; defining and providing for the
3 licensing and registration of dentists and dental hygienists,
4 and for the revocation and suspension of such licenses and
5 registrations, subject to appeal, and for their
6 reinstatement; defining the powers and duties of the State
7 Dental Council and Examining Board and the Department of
8 Public Instruction; providing penalties; and repealing
9 existing laws," further defining the term "dental hygienist."
10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11 hereby enacts as follows:
12 Section 1. The definition of "Dental Hygienist" in section 2
13 of the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.216, No.76), known as The Dental
14 Law, amended February 9, 1984 (P.L.23, No.9), is amended to
15 read:
16 Section 2. Definitions.--* * *
17 A "Dental Hygienist" is one who is legally licensed as such
18 by the said dental council and examining board to perform those
19 educational, preventive, and therapeutic services and procedures
20 that licensed dental hygienists are educated to perform. The
21 professional education of a dental hygienist must be a minimum
1 of two years in a dental hygiene program accredited by the
2 appropriate accrediting body recognized by the United States
3 Government and the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and
4 acceptable to and approved by the board under section 3(b).
5 Licensed dentists may assign to their employed dental hygienists
6 intra-oral procedures which the hygienists have been educated to
7 perform and which require their professional competence and
8 skill but which do not require the professional competence and
9 skill of the employer-dentist. Such assignments shall be under
10 the supervision of a licensed dentist. Such performance of
11 intra-oral procedures by licensed dental hygienists shall be in
12 the office of a dentist or public or private institution such as
13 schools, hospitals, orphanages, and sanitoria or State health
14 cars. The foregoing shall not be construed as authorizing the
15 assignment of diagnosing, treatment planning and writing
16 prescriptions for drugs or writing authorizations for
17 restorative, prosthetic, or orthodontic appliances. The board
18 shall issue rules setting forth the necessary education and
19 defining the procedures that may be performed by dental
20 hygienists licensed under this act including those procedures
21 that may be performed under direct and general supervision.
22 * * *
23 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
L22L63PJP/19930H0638B0702 - 2 -