FILED ON: 3/10/2016
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4069
|
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)
_______________
An Act relative to denture construction safety.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 13 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 21 the following section:-
Section 21A. (a) As used in this section the following terms shall, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, have the following meanings:
“Board,” the Denture Technology Board.
"Denture Laboratories,” a place in which a person performs or offers to perform a denture-related service.
“Denture-related service,” shall refer to (A) the construction, assembly, processing, production, repair, relining, or adjustment of a prosthetic or orthodontic dental appliance, a full or partial denture, a fixed or removable dental bridge, a dental plate of false teeth, an artificial restoration, or a substitute or corrective device for any part of the human teeth, gums, jaws, or alveolar process; or (B) the fitting of a dental appliance, a denture, a bridge, a plate, false teeth, an artificial restoration, or a substitute or corrective device for the human teeth, gums, or jaws to or on a dental model, impression, or cast of any part of the human teeth, gums, jaws, or alveolar process.
“Denture Technician,” any person who performs, offers to perform, or aids, abets, or causes another to perform or offer to perform a denture-related service
(b) There shall be a board of denture technology for the certification of denture laboratories, consisting of 11 persons, each of whom shall be a legal resident of the commonwealth, to be appointed by the governor, 7 of whom shall be licensed denturists, 2 of whom shall be reputable dentists who have maintained a license to practice dentistry in the commonwealth for the 8 years next preceding his appointment, and 2 of whom shall be representatives of the public, subject to the provisions of section 9B. The governor shall appoint annually in April, for a term of 5 years, a successor to those members of the board whose terms are expiring in that month. No member shall serve more than 2 full terms. The council shall elect from its membership a presiding officer. The members of the board shall not receive compensation for their service.
The board shall meet twice a year within the commonwealth and may meet at other times at the call of the presiding officer of the board.
SECTION 2. Chapter 112 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after section 52C, the following section:-
Section 52C ½ . In conjunction with the board of denture technology, the department of public health shall promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the licensure of all persons engaged in the business of construction of dentures to be worn as a substitute for natural teeth. Included in the licensure requirements shall be health and safety standards regarding the condition of the lab in which the dentures are created.