BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1545|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1545
Author: Eng (D)
Amended: 9/7/07 in Assembly
Vote: 21
PRIOR VOTES NOT RELEVANT
SUBJECT : Dentistry: dental hygienists
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill creates a Dental Hygiene Committee of
California and extends the sunset date for the Dental Board
of California from July 1, 2008, to July 1, 2011.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1. Establishes the DBC, within the Department of Consumer
Affairs (DCA), to license and regulate dentists. The
DBC consists of eight practicing dentists, one
registered dental hygienist, one registered dental
assistant, and four public members.
2. Establishes the Committee on Dental Auxiliaries (COMDA)
under the jurisdiction of the DBC, and charges COMDA
with specified duties and authority, including the
authority to review and make recommendations to the
Board on various issues relating to the licensing of
CONTINUED
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dental auxiliaries. COMDA consists of nine members
appointed by the Governor: one member of the public,
one member who is a licensed dentist and who has been
appointed by the DBC, one member who is a licensed
dentist who is neither a DBC member nor appointed by the
DBC, three members who are licensed as registered dental
hygienists, at least one of whom is actively employed in
a private dental office, and three members who are
licensed as registered dental assistants.
3. Authorizes COMDA to issue licenses to dental auxiliary
applicants, including applicants for licensure as a
registered dental assistant (RDA), registered dental
hygienist (RDH), registered dental hygienists in
extended practice (RDHEP), and registered dental
hygienists in alternative practice (RDHAP), but the DBC
retains final authority on questions related to
licensure requirements.
4. Makes the DBC responsible for all disciplinary actions
against a dental auxiliary and for approving all of
their continuing education requirements.
5. Creates the State Dental Auxiliary Fund in the
Professions and Vocations Fund and fees collected in
connection with the practice of a dental auxiliary are
deposited into this fund.
6. Sunsets the DBC, its executive officer, and COMDA on
July 1, 2008.
This bill:
1. Abolishes COMDA within the DBC, transfers the regulation
of dental hygienists to the Dental Hygiene Committee of
California (Committee) and transfers the regulation of
RDAs to the DBC.
2. Authorizes the Committee to license and regulate dental
hygienists and stipulates the composition of the
Committee to consist of four public members, four dental
hygienists and one dentist.
3. Creates within the DBC a standing Dental Assisting
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Committee to advise the DBC on issues relating to RDAs.
4. Establishes criteria for licensure by the Committee of
Registered Dental Hygienists, Registered Dental
Hygienists in Alternative Practice, and Registered
Dental Hygienists in Extended Functions.
5. Sets forth the Committee's functions, including issuing,
reviewing, and revoking licenses, developing and
administering examinations, and determining fees and
education programs and continuing education requirements
for registered dental hygienists (RDHs), RDHs in
Alternative Practice, and RDHs in Extended Functions.
6. Authorizes the Committee to adopt rules and regulations
to implement the provisions of this bill and make
recommendations to the DBC regarding scope of practice
issues.
7. Repeals the Dental Auxiliary Fund and transfers all
monies related to the RDAs to the Dental Assistant Fund,
created in this bill.
8. Creates the State Dental Hygiene Fund in the Professions
and Vocations Fund and requires that fees paid by
Committee licensees and certain fines be deposited into
the Dental Hygiene Fund.
9. Establishes a full-time management position within the
DBC, under the direction of the Executive Officer,
dedicated solely to the matters relating to dental
assisting.
10.Allows the DBC to discipline a dentist approved to
provide on-the-job training with for specialty dental
assistant if that dentist fails to provide the education
or training in accordance with the law and regulations
governing the specialty licensure category of dental
assistant.
11.Authorizes the DBC to require a specialty dental
assistant applicant who has repeatedly failed to pass
either the written or practical examination for
licensure to complete additional training and education
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before he/she is allowed to retake the examination.
12.Allows the DBC to approve the written examination for
specialty category dental assistant licensure without
respect to the entity that developed the examination,
and allows the DBC to enter into an agreement with a
public or private organization for the administration of
the exam.
13.Extends the operative date of provisions relating to
registered dental assistants in extended function and
registered restorative assistants in extended function
from January 1, 2008, to January 1, 2010.
14.Extends the sunset date of the DBC three years, from
July 1, 2008, to July 1, 2011.
15.Adds double-jointing language to SB 1048 (Senate
Business, Professions and Economic Development
Committee).
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
JJA:do 9/10/07 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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