Delaware General Assembly

CHAPTER 4

FORMERLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 25

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 88, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking said Chapter in its entirety.

Section 2. Amend §9903, Chapter 99, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by re-designating subsection (e) as subsection (f) and creating a new subsection (e) to read as follows:

“(e) the Commission shall be responsible for the administration of the Delaware Institute for Dental Education and Research (DIDER), which shall serve as an advisory board to the Commission. The Commission shall have such other duties and authorities with respect to DIDER which are necessary to carry out the intent of the General Assembly as expressed in this chapter.”

Section 3. Amend Chapter 99, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by creating a new Subchapter V to read as follows:

“Subchapter V. Delaware Institute for Dental Education and Research.

§9940. Findings.

(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the original purposes for DIDER enacted in 1981 remain sound and should be continued and strengthened.

(b) The General Assembly finds and declares that the original DIDER statute anticipated multiple purposes for the organization, but that administrative and other resources have limited DIDER to one purpose – that of becoming a funding conduit for supporting hospital based residency training programs as required in Chapter 11, Title 24 of the Delaware Code.

(c) The General Assembly finds and declares that DIDER can play a pivotal role in implementing many programs that could result in improved access to dental care for Delawareans.

(d) The General Assembly finds and declares that a new structure of the DIDER Board will more appropriately reflect DIDER’s abilities to meet its responsibilities outlined in this legislation.

(e) The General Assembly finds and declares that placing the administration of DIDER within the Delaware Health Care Commission will enhance its ability to accomplish its goals and ensure that DIDER’s future functions will be focused on promoting dental education, and helping the State to meet its health care needs, in concert with DIMER and other state health care policy activities.

§9941. Creation of a Board.

(a) There is hereby established the Board of Directors of the Delaware Institute for Dental Education and Research (‘Board’) which shall serve as an advisory board to the Health Care Commission.

(b) The Board shall consist of 10 members. One shall be a public member, appointed by the Governor. Three shall be members of the Delaware State Dental Society, appointed by the Society. One shall be appointed by Christiana Care Health Services, appointed by the Board of Directors of Christiana Care Health Services. One shall be a member of the Delaware Health Care Commission, appointed by the Health Care Commission. One shall be a member of the Board of Dental Examiners, to be appointed by the Board of Dental Examiners. One shall be a dental hygienist to be appointed by the Delaware Dental Hygienist Association. One shall represent the Delaware Higher Education Commission to be appointed by the Higher Education Commission. The Delaware State Dental Director shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Board.

(c) All members, other than the ex-officio member, shall be appointed for a term of 3 years except the initial appointments. Of the appointed positions, 3 will initially be for 1 year, 3 will initially be for 2 years and 3 will be for 3 years to allow for staggered terms. Members may be re-appointed three times and may serve no longer than nine years. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term.

(e) The Chair shall be elected by the members from among the Board members.

(f) No member of the Board shall receive compensation for his or her duties other than normal travel expenses incurred in carrying out his or her responsibilities as members.

(g) A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum and shall be sufficient for any action by the Board.

(h) The Board may establish working committees to assist in completing its work.

§9942. Purposes of the Board.

The purpose of the Board shall be to support, encourage and promote:

(a) Accredited general practice residencies in dentistry at any general hospital in the State that will provide a comprehensive postgraduate training program pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 11 of Title 24.

(b) Expansion of opportunities for Delaware residents to obtain dental education and training at all levels.

(c) A strengthening of the factors favoring the decision of qualified dental personnel to practice in Delaware, including, but not limited to, tools such as loan repayment programs as approved by the Delaware Health Care Commission.

(d) Dental needs of the community at large and particularly those who do not have ready access to dental care.

(e) Expansion of opportunities for Delaware residents to obtain training at a reasonable cost in the dental professions.

(f) Incentives for qualified personnel in the dental professions to practice in Delaware.

(g) Support of graduate and post-graduate training programs, including emphasis on those programs targeted to meet the state’s health care needs.

§9943. Duties.

The Board shall be responsible for implementation of policies designed to accomplish the purposes set forth in 9911 of this subchapter, and shall report to the Commission on its progress. Its activities and responsibilities shall include:

(a) Working in conjunction with the Board of Dental Examiners, develop programs to encourage and allow dentists to practice in under-served areas of the state, as designated by the Delaware Health Care Commission, in lieu of hospital-based residency training as a condition of licensure. Such programs may include preceptorships and reciprocity.

(b) Loan repayment programs designed to attract dental personnel to Delaware’s under-served areas, as approved by the Delaware Health Care Commission.

(c) Development of expanded opportunities for dental school graduates to obtain general practice training in Delaware. Examples of such opportunities may include, but not be limited to: satellite sites, partnerships with dental schools, and partnerships with local hospitals.

(d) Developing recruitment programs designed to attract dental personnel to Delaware.

(e) Developing plans for enhanced education opportunities for Delawareans interested in pursuing a dental education.

(f) Developing plans for improving access to dental care, particularly for the under-served populations.

The Board may develop working relationships and affiliation agreements with other institutions to facilitate carrying out the purposes of this chapter. Any such agreements shall be approved by the Delaware Health Care Commission, which shall be a signatory to any documents setting the terms of the agreement.”

Section 4. Amend Chapter 99, Title 16, §9906(b) of the Delaware Code by striking the words, “the Medical Center of Delaware;” where they appear in the first sentence thereof and substituting in lieu thereof the words, “Christiana Care Health Services;”

Section 5. Amend Chapter 99, Title 16, §9906(b) of the Delaware Code by inserting after the phrase, “The Board shall consist of 16 members,” the words “1 of whom shall be a member of the Delaware Health Care Commission, to be appointed by the Delaware Health Care Commission”.

Section 6. Amend Chapter 99, Title 16, §9906(b) of the Delaware Code by striking the number “16” as it appears in the first sentence thereof and substituting in lieu thereof the number “17”.