WSR 13-21-056

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed October 15, 2013, 12:04 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-815-020 and 246-815-140, the department of health is considering amending WAC 246-815-020 to streamline the application requirements for dental hygiene examination eligibility, and amending the continuing education requirements for dental hygienists in WAC 246-815-140.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 43.70.280 and 18.29.130(7).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: WAC 246-815-020 requires an applicant for licensure as a dental hygienist to submit, with their application, a photo taken within the prior year. The department of health (department), in consultation with the dental hygiene examining committee (committee), is considering the repeal of this requirement as it may streamline the application review process.

The department, in consultation with the committee, is also considering changes to WAC 246-815-140, continuing education. The committee is considering a range of options for continuing education including volunteer hours.

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. The department will be holding at least one public workshop before developing its proposed rules. Interested members of the public may sign up for the dental hygiene listserv at http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=dental-hygiene&A=1. All rule-making notices will be e-mailed to this listserv and appropriate state associations. Contact Department of Health, Dental Hygiene Program, Vicki Brown, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7853, (360) 236-4865, vicki.brown@doh.wa.gov.

October 15, 2013

Jessica Todorovich

for John Wiesman, DrPh, MPH

Secretary