(a) There is created a State Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee which shall serve the Board on matters pertaining to the policy and practice of dental hygiene.

(b) The Committee shall consist of 3 licensed dental hygienists, appointed by the Governor, who are residents of this State and who have been actively practicing dental hygiene in this State for 2 years immediately preceding appointment to the Committee.

(1) No person shall be eligible for appointment to the Committee who is in any manner connected with or who has an interest in any dental hygiene college or the dental hygiene department of any college or university or any commercial dental enterprise.

(2) Each member shall serve a term of 3 years and remain eligible to participate in proceedings unless and until replaced by the Governor.

(3) All terms shall be staggered so that 1 new member is added and 1 member is retired each year.

(4) A member of the Committee shall be suspended or removed by the Governor for misfeasance, nonfeasance, malfeasance, misconduct, incompetency or neglect of duty.

(5) No member of the Committee shall hold elective office in any professional association of dental hygienists.

(6) Each member of the Committee shall be reimbursed, according to the policy of the Division of Professional Regulation, for all expenses involved in each meeting, including travel; and in addition, shall receive $50 for each meeting attended but not more than $500 in any calendar year. After 10 meetings have been attended, the member shall not be compensated for any subsequent meetings attended in that year.

(7) No 2 dental hygienists from the same practice may serve on the Advisory Committee at the same time.

(c) The Committee shall participate with members of the Board in:

(1) Voting on the qualifications of candidates who apply for licensure to practice dental hygiene;

(2) Voting on the composition of the state dental hygiene clinical/practical examination;

(3) Voting on the requirements for renewal of dental hygiene licenses;

(4) Voting on disciplinary actions involving hygienists; and

(5) Voting on other matters involving the policy and practice of dental hygiene as defined in § 1101(13) of this title and further defined in the Board’s rules and regulations. The Committee shall not vote on matters involving changing the scope of practice as defined in § 1101(13) of this title.

65 Del. Laws, c. 210, § 16; 71 Del. Laws, c. 31, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 332, § 3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 463, §§ 6-8; 79 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 80, § 9.