Alaska State Legislature
News from the House Majority

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Senate Votes Extra Protection for Dental Patients

Joins House in Approving Authority for CPR MOA's

For Immediate Release: April 29, 1998 Contact: Rep. Gene Therriault at (907) 465-4797.

Juneau -- The Alaska Senate Wednesday unanimously passed House Bill 387, which gives the Board of Dental Examiners the ability to enter into a formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with applicants or licensees who are unable to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

Currently the Board enters into an MOA when it determines that an applicant or licensee is physically unable to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. However, during a Legislative audit last year it was found that the Board possesses no statutory authority to enter into such an agreement.

"The spirit and intent of the state statute is to protect dental patients. This bill seeks to give the board the authority to enter into these MOAs while preserving that spirit and intent," said Representative Gene Therriault (R-Fairbanks), the bill's sponsor. "Passage of HB 387 will allow the board to continue to enter into MOA's that require a dentist to have CPR certified personnel in attendance whenever an invasive dental procedure is performed.

"The wording of the legislation will also prevent a potential conflict with the Federal Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)," Therriault said.

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