[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to increasing the supply of dentists to meet the critical shortage of dental providers in this state and underserved areas; amending RCW 18.32.215; adding new sections to chapter 18.32 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds and declares that access to dental care is severely hampered by a critical and emergent shortage of dental providers in Washington state. Dental disease is an epidemic among poor children, the elderly, the disabled, and anyone who does not have access to adequate dental care. Dental decay is worsening among children under four years of age, with forty-one percent of the state's Headstart children needing treatment for dental decay. One-third of the dentists in this state are over fifty-five years old, and forty-five percent of dentists in Yakima county are planning to retire in the next five years. The lack of qualified dentists poses a serious and compelling threat to the oral health of the people of this state.

Shortages are also due to licensing restrictions that have discouraged qualified dentists from coming into this state. The legislature finds that there is a great resource of dentists in the military whose retirement from duty offers untapped opportunity to continue their practice as civilians. Increasing the number of dentists from other states and from military installations would enable retiring dentists in this state to sell their practices to other qualified practitioners. The legislature intends to improve access to dental care in this state by increasing the number of dentists willing to work in underserved areas, as well as to assure their availability to every resident of the state.

Sec. 2. RCW 18.32.215 and 1994 sp.s. c 9 s 219 are each amended to read as follows:

An applicant holding a valid license and currently engaged in practice in another state may be granted a license without examination required by this chapter, on the payment of any required fees, if the commission determines that the other state's licensing standards are ((~~substantively~~)) substantially equivalent to the standards in this state and the applicant is a graduate of an approved dental school. The commission may also require the applicant to: (1) File with the commission documentation certifying the applicant is licensed to practice in another state; and (2) provide information as the commission deems necessary pertaining to the conditions and criteria of the Uniform Disciplinary Act, chapter 18.130 RCW, and to demonstrate to the commission a knowledge of Washington law pertaining to the practice of dentistry.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 18.32 RCW to read as follows:

An applicant holding a valid license currently engaged in practice in another state may be granted a license without examination required by this chapter, on payment of the required fees, if the commission determines that the applicant is a graduate of an approved dental school and conditions his or her practice in a critical needs area, as defined by the secretary considering federal guidelines for serving patients in underserved areas. After completing three years of practice in a critical needs area, the applicant may be granted a license without examination to practice anywhere in this state. The commission may also require the applicant to: (1) File with the commission documentation certifying the applicant is licensed to practice in another state; and (2) provide information as the commission deems necessary pertaining to the conditions and criteria of the Uniform Disciplinary Act, chapter 18.130 RCW, and to demonstrate to the commission a knowledge of Washington law pertaining to the practice of dentistry.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 18.32 RCW to read as follows:

An applicant holding a valid license and currently engaged as a dentist in military service in any state may be granted a license without examination required by this chapter, on payment of the required fees, if the commission determines that the applicant is a graduate of an approved dental school. The commission may also require the applicant to: (1) File with the commission documentation certifying the applicant is licensed to practice in another state; and (2) provide information as the commission deems necessary pertaining to the conditions and criteria of the Uniform Disciplinary Act, chapter 18.130 RCW, and to demonstrate to the commission a knowledge of Washington law pertaining to the practice of dentistry.