04/21/1998 01:35 PM Senate L&C

                                                                               
            CSHB 387(L&C) - DENTISTS ABILITY TO DO CPR                         
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN LEMAN called the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee                  
meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. and announced HB 387 was before the              
committee as the first order of business.                                      
                                                                               
JOE BALASH, staff to Representative Gene Therriault, explained the             
legislation is intended to give the Board of Dental Examiners the              
ability to enter into a formal memorandum of agreement with                    
applicants or licensees who are unable to perform cardio-pulmonary             
resuscitation.  Currently, the board enters into MOAs when it                  
determines that an applicant or licensee is physically unable to               
perform CPR.  However, during a legislative audit conducted last               
year, it was discovered that the board possesses no statutory                  
authority to enter  into such agreements.  HB 387 seeks to give                
that authority to the Board of Dental Examiners while preserving               
the spirit and intent of the statute to protect the patients of                
dentistry.                                                                     
                                                                               
Number 052                                                                     
                                                                               
MARK JOHNSON, Chief, Community Health & Emergency Medical Services,            
Department of Health and Social Services, voiced the department's              
support for the legislation.                                                   
                                                                               
CATHERINE REARDON, Director, Division of Occupational Licensing,               
Department of Commerce & Economic Development, stated that                     
department was also supportive of HB 387.                                      
                                                                               
There being no further testimony on HB 387, CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked               
for the pleasure of the committee.                                             
                                                                               
SENATOR KELLY moved CSHB 387(L&C) be passed out of committee with              
individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so                   
ordered.