ENROLLED
ACT No. 324
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 69
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE AND SENATORS THOMPSON AND
WALSWORTH
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:753(C)(2) and to enact R.S. 37:753(K), relative to the
3 membership of the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry; to require that an appointee
4 to an at-large seat on the board possess certain qualifications; to provide for filling
5 of a vacancy in the at-large seat; to provide for a temporary appointment term; to
6 provide for expanded membership of the board; to provide for an effective date; and
7 to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 37:753(C)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 37:753(K)
10 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 ยง753. Louisiana State Board of Dentistry; appointment of members; term of office;
12 vacancies; nominating meetings; quorum; domicile
13 * * *
14 C. Each member of the board shall be appointed by the governor as follows:
15 * * *
16 (2) Three dentists shall be appointed from the state at large. to fill seats
17 designated as "At-Large Seats A, B, and C" in accordance with the following
18 requirements:
19 (a) One seat shall be designated as "At-Large Seat A" and shall be appointed
20 from the state at large from a list of three licensed black dentists certified by the
21 board secretary to the governor. The board secretary shall obtain a list of three
22 nominees for the "At-Large Seat A" position by ballot sent by United States mail to
23 all licensed black dentists in the state at their last known mailing address as indicated
24 in the board files. Each licensed black dentist may nominate any three licensed black
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1 dentists by completing the ballot with the full name, residence, address, city, and
2 home telephone number of the three nominees and mailing the ballot to the board
3 offices. The submission of such information on the ballot shall serve as confirmation
4 that the voter has discussed the nomination with the nominees and they have agreed
5 to serve if nominated and appointed by the governor. The ballot shall be mailed by
6 the board secretary at least ninety days prior to any vacancy occurring by reason of
7 an expiring term or within thirty days after a vacancy occurring by reason of death,
8 resignation, or for any other reason. After the board secretary has tabulated all
9 ballots received at the board offices, the names of the three nominees receiving the
10 greatest number of votes shall be certified by the secretary and sent to the governor.
11 (b) Two seats One seat shall be designated as "At-Large Seats B and C Seat
12 B" and shall be appointed from a roster of all licensed dentists in the state. A
13 vacancy occurring in either "At-Large Seat B" or "At-Large Seat C" shall be filled
14 by the governor without the necessity of a nomination or other requirement, except
15 that the appointee shall be licensed and domiciled in the state.
16 (c) One seat shall be designated as "At-Large Seat C" and shall be appointed
17 from a roster of all licensed dentists in the state who are board-eligible or board-
18 certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons, all licensed dentists in the state who are
19 board-eligible or board-certified dental anesthesiologists, and all licensed dentists in
20 the state who have comparable training and expertise as defined by the Louisiana
21 State Board of Dentistry in deep sedation and anesthesia. A vacancy occurring in
22 "At-Large Seat C" shall be filled by the governor without the necessity of a
23 nomination or other requirement, except that the appointee shall be licensed and
24 domiciled in the state and additionally shall be qualified as a board-eligible or
25 board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, a board-eligible or board-certified
26 dental anesthesiologist, or a dentist who has comparable training and expertise as
27 defined by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry in deep sedation and anesthesia.
28 * * *
29 K.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B and Subparagraph
30 (C)(2)(c) of this Section, the board member appointed and serving in "At-Large Seat
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1 C" prior to implementation of Subparagraph (C)(2)(c) of this Section shall continue
2 to serve the duration of his five-year term as a temporary appointment in addition to
3 the board member appointed to serve in "At-Large Seat C" pursuant to the
4 requirements established by Subparagraph (C)(2)(c) of this Section.
5 (2) During the period of temporary appointment, the board shall be
6 composed of sixteen members.
7 (3) Upon conclusion of the term of the temporary appointment of "At-Large
8 Seat C" provided for in this Subsection, this Subsection shall terminate.
9 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
10 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
11 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
12 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
13 effective on the day following such approval.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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