Chapter 1016 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

AN ACT

HB 2718

Relating to retired dentists; and appropriating money.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) For the purposes of this section and section 2 of this 1999 Act, "retired dentist" means a person who is retired from active practice except for the practice of dentistry without remuneration as a volunteer.

(2) Subject to availability of funding, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall establish a program to purchase and maintain liability insurance for retired dentists. Insurance provided under the program shall be acquired through contracts with liability insurers that are authorized to offer liability malpractice insurance in this state. Insurance shall be provided under the program only if:

(a) Dental services by the retired dentist will be provided through nonprofit corporations offering community services;

(b) Dental services provided by the retired dentist will be offered to low-income patients based on ability to pay; and

(c) The retired dentist will receive no compensation for the dental services provided, except for reimbursement for laboratory fees, testing services and other out-of-pocket expenses.

(3) This section and section 2 of this 1999 Act do not impose any liability on the state, or on the officers, employees and agents of the state, for any civil or criminal action against a retired dentist insured under the program established under this section.

(4) The department shall monitor the claims experience of retired dentists insured through the program established under this section. The department may impose any risk management requirements that the department deems appropriate as a condition of providing liability insurance under the program.

(5) The department shall provide insurance under this section only to the extent that funds are appropriated to the department for the purposes of funding the program established under this section.

SECTION 2. The Oregon Department of Administrative Services may by rule establish any conditions considered necessary by the department before providing liability insurance for a retired dentist under the program established by section 1 of this 1999 Act.

SECTION 3. In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropriated to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, for the biennium beginning July 1, 1999, out of the General Fund, the sum of $25,000 for the funding of the program established under section 1 of this 1999 Act.

Effective date August 20, 1999

Filed in the office of the Secretary of State August 23, 1999

Approved by the Governor October 23, 1999

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