Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amending chapter 246-817 WAC relating to the registration of dental assistants. Legislation passed in 2007, SHB 1099, requires persons practicing as dental assistants (DAs) to register with the department of health beginning on July 1, 2008. The legislation requires the commission to establish rules defining the scope of services that may be provided by a dental assistant.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.32.0365; SHB 1099 (chapter 269, Laws of 2007).

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Rules are needed to implement 2007 legislation, SHB 1099, to establish criteria for the registration of persons practicing as dental assistants and rules relating to the scope of dental assisting services related to patient care and laboratory duties that may be performed by dental assistants. Rules may also be needed to clarify supervisory relationships between dentists and dental assistants for various tasks and may include restructuring of the existing rules and adding new sections.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Lisa R. Anderson, Dental Program Manager, Dental Quality Assurance Commission, P.O. Box 47867, Olympia, WA 98504-7867, phone (360) 236-4863, fax (360) 664-9077, e-mail Lisa.anderson@doh.wa.gov. The commission will notify all individuals and organizations who have expressed an interest in the commission's rule-making activities via the listserv e-mail notification system. Stakeholders may also submit written comments for consideration.

July 23, 2007

Lisa Anderson

Dental Program Manager

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