HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1327
As Reported by House Committee On:
Postsecondary Education & Workforce
Title: An act relating to faculty in dental schools.
Brief Description: Concerning faculty in dental schools.
Sponsors: Representatives Caldier and Leavitt; by request of Department of Health.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Postsecondary Education & Workforce: 1/24/23, 1/27/23 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows academic licenses for dentists to be associated with any accredited dental school in Washington, instead of only the University of Washington's School of Dentistry.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION & WORKFORCE
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 15 members:Representatives Slatter, Chair; Entenman, Vice Chair; Reed, Vice Chair; Ybarra, Ranking Minority Member; Waters, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Hansen, Jacobsen, Klicker, Leavitt, McEntire, Paul, Pollet, Schmidt and Timmons.
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:

Dentists are licensed and disciplined by the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC).  In order to be licensed, a dentist must:

  • submit proof of graduation from a dental college, school, or dental department of an institution approved by the DQAC;
  • submit a recent picture; and
  • pass an examination.

 
The DQAC may issue licenses without examination to dentists licensed in other states who have been accepted for employment as faculty by the University of Washington's School of Dentistry.  Upon written request by the University of Washington's School of Dentistry, the DQAC may also issue limited licenses to:  (1) university postdoctoral students or residents in dental education; or (2) postdoctoral residents in dental residency programs.
Summary of Bill:

The licenses issued by the Dental Quality Assurance Commission associated with the University of Washington may be issued to any other institution of higher education in Washington accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support)  This is a simple bill.  It just extends the faculty licenses to other schools.  The new Pacific Northwest University Dental School is training people from rural and underserved areas who will serve communities like tribes and farmworkers.  Current faculty licenses are currently limited only to the University of Washington.  This change will allow dental providers to be faculty at any school in the state. 

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Michelle Caldier, prime sponsor; Fotinos Panagakos, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine; and Shawna Fox, Washington State Department of Health.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.