PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
(Dental Quality Assurance Commission)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-817-XXX, creating a new section to establish an inactive dentist license status.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.32.0365 and 18.32.185.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 18.32.185 allows dentists to obtain an inactive license status. The commission must define how to obtain an inactive dentist license and establish renewal requirements of an inactive dentist license, and the requirements to return to active status. There has been a high volume of calls from practitioners asking for a licensing status alternative. The commission decided to write rules to allow for an inactive license status in response to practitioner concerns.
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 rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jennifer Santiago, Department of Health, Dental Quality Assurance Commission, P.O. Box 47867, Olympia, WA 98504-7867, phone (360) 236-4893, fax (360) 664-9077. Notice will be e-mailed to the dental commission's interested parties list (listserv) and to Washington State Dental Association and Washington State Dental Hygienists'™ Association. The commission has established a committee of commission members to draft proposed rules. Stakeholders will be invited to rules drafting workshops.
January 16, 2009
Jennifer Santiago
Program Manager
Dental Quality
Assurance Commission