Maine § 18432. - Purpose and objectives

§ 18432.. Purpose and objectives

1.  Purpose.  The purpose of the compact is to facilitate the interstate practice of dentistry and dental hygiene and improve public access to dentistry and dental hygiene services by providing dentists and dental hygienists who are licensed in a participating state the ability to practice in participating states in which they are not licensed by establishing a pathway for dentists and dental hygienists who are licensed in a participating state to obtain a compact privilege that authorizes them to practice in another participating state in which they are not licensed. The compact enables participating states to protect the public health and safety with respect to the practice of such dentists and dental hygienists, through the state's authority to regulate the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in the state.

2.  Objectives.  The compact is designed to achieve the following objectives:

A. Enable dentists and dental hygienists who qualify for a compact privilege to practice in participating states without satisfying burdensome and duplicative requirements associated with securing a license to practice in those states;   [PL 2023, c. 664, §1 (NEW).]

B. Promote mobility and address workforce shortages through each participating state's acceptance of a compact privilege to practice in that state;   [PL 2023, c. 664, §1 (NEW).]

C. Increase public access to qualified, licensed dentists and dental hygienists by creating a responsible, streamlined pathway for licensees to practice in participating states;   [PL 2023, c. 664, §1 (NEW).]

D. Enhance the ability of participating states to protect the public's health and safety;   [PL 2023, c. 664, §1 (NEW).]

E. Operate without interfering with licensure requirements established by participating states;   [PL 2023, c. 664, §1 (NEW).]

F. Facilitate the sharing of licensure and disciplinary information among participating states;   [PL 2023, c. 664, §1 (NEW).]

G. Require dentists and dental hygienists who practice in a participating state pursuant to a compact privilege to practice within the scope of practice authorized in that state;   [PL 2023, c. 664, §1 (NEW).]

H. Extend the authority of a participating state to regulate the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene within its borders to dentists and dental hygienists who practice in the state through a compact privilege;   [PL 2023, c. 664, §1 (NEW).]

I. Promote the cooperation of participating states in regulating the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene within those states; and   [PL 2023, c. 664, §1 (NEW).]

J. Facilitate the relocation of military members and their spouses who are licensed to practice dentistry or dental hygiene.   [PL 2023, c. 664, §1 (NEW).]