| Chapter 138 |
| 2019 -- S 0572 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/08/2019 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO EDUCATION - HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS |
| Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Cano, Archambault, Gallo, and Sheehan |
| Date Introduced: March 14, 2019 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 16-21-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health and |
| Safety of Pupils" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 16-21-9. Health examinations and dental screenings -- Reports -- Records. |
| (a) Each community as defined in § 16-7-16 shall provide for the appointment of a |
| physician to make examinations of the health of the school children, who shall report any |
| deviation from the normal, and for the preservation of records of the examinations of the children. |
| Each community shall further provide for dental screenings by a licensed dentist or licensed |
| dental hygienist or a licensed public health dental hygienist, with at least three (3) years of |
| clinical experience, who shall report any suspected deviation from the normal, and for the |
| preservation of records of the screenings of the children. Each community shall notify the parents |
| or custodians of children of conditions requiring professional or skilled treatment. The state |
| commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall provide blank forms and record books |
| that he or she may deem necessary for the purposes of this section. |
| (b) Each community as defined in § 16-7-16 shall contract with a licensed dentist and/or |
| a licensed public health dental hygienist, for the provision of the dental screenings services |
| required by this section. Dental hygienists performing the dental screenings pursuant to the |
| provisions of this section shall do so under the general supervision of the dentist liable and |
| responsible under the contract with the community or within the collaborative agreement |
| guidelines between a licensed public health hygienist and licensed dentist. |
| (c) Except in emergency circumstances, should a referral by a dentist, dental hygienist, |
| and/or public health dental hygienist of children screened pursuant to the provisions of this |
| section be provided to a dental practice by which the dentist or dental hygienist is employed |
| and/or which the dentist owns, the referral should include the name(s) of one or more dental |
| practices as alternative providers shall be strictly prohibited. In the event that a referral has been |
| made in violation of this provision, the community shall terminate its contract with the dentist. In |
| the case of an egregious violation of the referral prohibition contained in this section, that conduct |
| shall be reported to the board of dental examiners. |
| (d) Each community shall provide to parents or custodians of children who require |
| professional or skilled treatment a list of both dental practices in the community that accept |
| patients insured by medical assistance and/or RIte Care and dental practices that provide services |
| on a sliding scale basis to uninsured individuals. The department of human services shall provide |
| each community with a list containing the addresses and telephone numbers of both dental |
| practices that accept patients insured by medical assistance and/or RIte Care and dental practices |
| that provide services on a sliding scale basis to uninsured individuals. |
| (e) Dental screenings for children in kindergarten, third, and ninth grade shall only be |
| performed by a licensed dentist or licensed public health dental hygienist. |
| (f) All dentists, dental hygienists, and/or public health dental hygienists, performing |
| dental screenings pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall meet with the oral health |
| director of the department of health on a regular basis, as determined by the chief. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
| ======== |
| LC001413/SUB A |
| ======== |