H-0083.2

HOUSE BILL 1466

ByRepresentatives Riccelli, Leavitt, and Morgan

AN ACT Relating to currently credentialed dental auxiliaries; amending RCW 18.29.005, 18.29.050, and 18.29.190; adding new sections to chapter 18.29 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 18.29.005 and 1969 c 47 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

((The term "surfaces))The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(3) "Surfaces of the teeth" ((as used in this chapter)) means the portions of the crown and root surface to which there is no periodontal membrane attached.

Sec. 2. RCW 18.29.050 and 2015 c 120 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any person licensed as a dental hygienist in this state may ((remove deposits and stains from the surfaces of the teeth, may apply topical preventive or prophylactic agents, may polish and smooth restorations, may perform root planing and soft-tissue curettage, and may perform other dental operations and services delegated to them by a licensed dentist.))perform the following hygiene procedures:

(6) Any person licensed as a dental hygienist in this state may apply topical anesthetic agents under the general supervision, as defined in RCW 18.260.010, of a dentist: PROVIDED HOWEVER, That licensed dental hygienists shall in no event perform the following dental operations or services:

(((1)))(a) Any surgical removal of tissue of the oral cavity;

(((2)))(b) Any prescription of drugs or medications requiring the written order or prescription of a licensed dentist or physician, except that a hygienist may place antimicrobials pursuant to the order of a licensed dentist and under the dentist's required supervision;

(((3)))(c) Any diagnosis for treatment or treatment planning; or

(((4)))(d) The taking of any impression of the teeth or jaw, or the relationships of the teeth or jaws, for the purpose of fabricating any intra-oral restoration, appliance, or prosthesis, except that a dental hygienist may take an impression for any purpose that is either allowed:

(((a)))(i) For a dental assistant registered under chapter 18.260 RCW; or

(((b)))(ii) As a delegated duty for dental hygienists pursuant to rules adopted by the dental quality assurance commission.

Such licensed dental hygienists may perform dental operations and services only under the supervision of a licensed dentist, and under such supervision may be employed by hospitals, boards of education of public or private schools, county boards, boards of health, or public or charitable institutions, or in dental offices.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 18.29 RCW to read as follows:

Beginning January 1, 2024, the department shall issue an expanded function endorsement to any applicant who, as determined by the secretary:

(1) Holds a hygiene license or temporary hygiene license in this state;

(2) Completes clinical training approved by the secretary, including coursework encompassing the subject areas within the scope of the expanded function endorsement;

(3) Performs satisfactorily on an examination, if required by the dental hygiene examining committee; and

(4) Completes an application form and pays all application fees required by the dental hygiene examining committee.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 18.29 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department shall adopt requirements that qualify a licensed dental hygienist to be issued the following endorsements:

(a) A restorative expanded function endorsement;

(b) A local anesthesia expanded function endorsement; and

(c) A nitrous sedation expanded function endorsement.

(2) A person licensed as a dental hygienist in this state can apply for, and the department may issue to such applicant each or all expanded function endorsements.

Sec. 6. RCW 18.29.190 and 2019 c 111 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall issue ((an initial limited))a temporary license without the examination required by this chapter to any applicant who, as determined by the secretary:

(a) Holds a valid license in another state or Canadian province that allows a substantively equivalent scope of practice in subsection (3)(a) through (((j)))(k) of this section;

(b) ((Is currently engaged in active practice in another state or Canadian province. For the purposes of this section, "active practice" means five hundred sixty hours of practice in the preceding twenty-four months;

(c))) Files with the secretary documentation certifying that the applicant:

(i) Has graduated from an accredited dental hygiene school approved by the secretary;

(ii) Has successfully completed the dental hygiene national board examination; and

(iii) Is licensed to practice in another state or Canadian province;

(((d)))(c) Provides information as the secretary deems necessary pertaining to the conditions and criteria of the uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW;

(((e)))(d) Demonstrates to the secretary a knowledge of Washington state law pertaining to the practice of dental hygiene, including the administration of legend drugs; and

(((f)))(e) Pays any required fees((; and

(g) Meets requirements for AIDS education)).

(2) The term of the ((initial limited))temporary license issued under this section is ((eighteen))36 months ((and it is renewable upon:

(d) Demonstration of successful passage of an educational program on the administration of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide analgesia)).

(3) A person practicing with ((an initial limited))a temporary license granted under this section has the authority to perform hygiene procedures that are limited to:

(a) Oral inspection and measuring of periodontal pockets;

(b) Patient education in oral hygiene;

(c) Taking intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs;

(d) Applying topical preventive or prophylactic agents;

(e) Polishing and smoothing restorations;

(f) Oral prophylaxis and removal of deposits and stains from the surface of the teeth;

(g) Recording health histories;

(h) Taking and recording blood pressure and vital signs;

(i) Performing subgingival and supragingival scaling; ((and))

(j) Performing root planing; and

(k) Performing soft tissue curettage.

(4)(a) A person practicing with ((an initial limited))a temporary license granted under this section may not perform the following dental hygiene procedures ((unless authorized in (b) or (c) of this subsection))without obtaining the corresponding endorsements outlined in RCW 18.29.050 (2) through (4):

(i) Give injections of local anesthetic;

(ii) Place restorations into the cavity prepared by a licensed dentist and afterwards carve, contour, and adjust contacts and occlusion of the restoration; or

(iii) ((Soft tissue curettage; or

(iv))) Administer nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia.

(b) A person licensed in another state or Canadian province who can demonstrate substantively equivalent licensing standards in the administration of local anesthetic may receive a temporary endorsement to administer local anesthesia. For purposes of the ((renewed limited))temporary license, this endorsement demonstrates the successful passage of the local anesthesia examination.

(c) A person licensed in another state or Canadian province who can demonstrate substantively equivalent licensing standards in restorative procedures may receive a temporary endorsement for restorative procedures.

(d) A person licensed in another state or Canadian province who can demonstrate substantively equivalent licensing standards in administering nitrous oxide analgesia may receive a temporary endorsement to administer nitrous oxide analgesia.

(5)(((a))) A person practicing with a ((renewed limited))temporary license granted under this section may((:

(b) A person practicing with a renewed limited license granted under this section may not place restorations into the cavity prepared by a licensed dentist and afterwards carve, contour, and adjust contacts and occlusion of the restoration))perform hygiene procedures as provided in RCW 18.29.050 (1) through (4) if the appropriate endorsement has been issued by the department.

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