HOUSE HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 481

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

AN ACT

RELATING TO WATER QUALITY; REQUIRING A DENTAL OFFICE TO REMOVE DENTAL AMALGAM PRIOR TO DISCHARGE OF ITS WASTEWATER.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. [NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--Sections 1 through 6 of this act may be cited as the "Dental Amalgam Waste Reduction Act".

     Section 2. [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Dental Amalgam Waste Reduction Act:

          A. "amalgam" means a dental restorative material typically composed of mercury, silver, tin and copper, along with other metallic elements, that is used by a dentist to restore a cavity in teeth; and

          B. "amalgam separator" means a device that removes dental amalgam from the waste stream prior to discharge into either the local public wastewater system or a private septic system and that meets a minimum removal efficiency in accordance with international standards contained in ISO 11143, Dental Equipment-Amalgam Separators, published by the international organization for standardization.

     Section 3. [NEW MATERIAL] INSTALLATION OF AMALGAM SEPARATOR REQUIRED.--By December 31, 2008, a dental office shall install an appropriately sized amalgam separator system and shall demonstrate proper installation, operation, maintenance and amalgam waste recycling or disposal in accordance with an amalgam separator manufacturer's recommendations. The New Mexico board of dental health care shall consider noncompliance with the Dental Amalgam Waste Reduction Act as unprofessional conduct subject to the penalties and discipline of the board.

     Section 4. [NEW MATERIAL] EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN DENTAL OFFICES.--An amalgam separator system shall not be required for the offices or clinical site of:

          A. a dental office that can demonstrate that it is not engaged in amalgam placement, removal or modification;

          B. an orthodontist;

          C. a periodontist;

          D. an oral maxillofacial surgeon;

          E. an oral maxillofacial radiologist;

          F. an oral pathologist;

          G. a specialist in dental public health;

          H. a dentist who will no longer operate a dental office after December 31, 2008;

          I. a nonprofit organization that owns and operates a site where dentists provide dental care only on a voluntary basis; or

          J. a portable dental office without a fixed connection for wastewater discharge.

      Section 5. [NEW MATERIAL] REPORTING.--A dental office shall report the model and size of its amalgam separator system within ninety days of installation to its local publicly owned water treatment facility. A dental office shall report its compliance and maintain records of the operation, maintenance and recycling or disposal of amalgam waste for the previous three years. The New Mexico board of dental health care shall obtain from each local publicly owned water treatment facility the reported information and shall retain the reported information with the dentist's licensing information and shall review, update and clarify whether it needs improvement coincident with the board's licensing and relicensing functions.

     Section 6. [NEW MATERIAL] ENFORCEMENT.--The New Mexico board of dental health care shall initiate disciplinary proceedings for willful and persistent noncompliance with the provisions of the Dental Amalgam Waste Reduction Act.

     Section 7. Section 61-5A-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, Chapter 55, Section 10, as amended by Laws 2003, Chapter 408, Section 6 and by Laws 2003, Chapter 409, Section 8) is amended to read:

     "61-5A-10. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD AND COMMITTEE.--In addition to any other authority provided by law, the board and the committee, [where] when designated, shall have the power to:

          A. enforce and administer the provisions of the Dental Health Care Act;

          B. adopt, publish, file and revise, in accordance with the Uniform Licensing Act and the State Rules Act, all rules as may be necessary to:

                (1) regulate the examination and licensure of dentists and, through the committee, regulate the examination and licensure of dental hygienists;

                (2) provide for the examination and certification of dental assistants by the board;

                (3) provide for the regulation of dental technicians by the board;

                (4) regulate the practice of dentistry, dental assisting and, through the committee, regulate the practice of dental hygiene; and

                (5) provide for the regulation and licensure of non-dentist owners by the board;

          C. adopt and use a seal;

          D. administer oaths to all applicants, witnesses and others appearing before the board or the committee, as appropriate;

          E. keep an accurate record of all meetings, receipts and disbursements;

           F. grant, deny, review, suspend and revoke licenses and certificates to practice dentistry, dental assisting and, through the committee, dental hygiene and censure, reprimand, fine and place on probation and stipulation dentists, dental assistants and, through the committee, dental hygienists, in accordance with the Uniform Licensing Act for any cause stated in the Dental Health Care Act;

          G. grant, deny, review, suspend and revoke licenses to own dental practices and censure, reprimand, fine and place on probation and stipulation non-dentist owners, in accordance with the Uniform Licensing Act, for any cause stated in the Dental Health Care Act;

          H. maintain records of the name, address, license number and such other demographic data as may serve the needs of the board of licensees, together with a record of license renewals, suspensions, revocations, probations, stipulations, censures, reprimands and fines. The board shall make available composite reports of demographic data, but shall limit public access to information regarding individuals to their names, addresses, license numbers and license actions or as required by statute;

          [J.] I. establish ad hoc committees whose members shall be appointed by the [chairman] chair with the advice and consent of the board or committee and shall include at least one member of the board or committee, as it deems necessary for carrying on its business;

          [K.] J. have the authority to pay per diem and mileage to individuals who are appointed by the board or the committee to serve on ad hoc committees;

          [L.] K. have the authority to hire or contract with investigators to investigate possible violations of the Dental Health Care Act;

          [M.] L. have the authority to issue investigative subpoenas prior to the issuance of a notice of contemplated action for the purpose of investigating complaints against dentists, dental assistants and, through the committee, dental hygienists licensed under the Dental Health Care Act; and

          [N.] M. establish continuing education or continued competency requirements for dentists, certified dental assistants in expanded functions, dental technicians and, through the committee, dental hygienists."

     Section 8. TEMPORARY PROVISION--RULEMAKING BY THE BOARD OF DENTAL HEALTH CARE.--The New Mexico board of dental health care shall promulgate rules by December 31, 2007 to require that a dental office maintain records of maintenance and inspection for the three previous years for an amalgam separator. Utilization of a method or technology that is approved by the department of environment, the water quality control commission or the New Mexico board of dental health care is in compliance with the requirements of this section.

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