FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1894

PARTIAL VETO

                                  C 202 L 89

BYHouse Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Braddock, D. Sommers, Brooks, Sprenkle, Vekich, Day, Cantwell, Wolfe, Morris, Chandler, Patrick, Valle, Dellwo, Rector, Nelson and Phillips)

Making technical changes in dental hygiene and dentistry.

House Committe on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The practice of dental hygiene is regulated by the Department of Licensing.  A person must hold a license in order to practice dental hygiene.  The Director of Licensing's general authority to implement the law is not specified.  There are no exemptions from licensure provided by law.

Applicants for licensure must be citizens, at least 18 years of age and of good moral character, and must submit proof of graduation from a training school.

The examining committee is composed of three dental hygienists, and examinations must be given twice annually.  Terms for membership and experience requirements for members are not specified.  There is no member representing the public.

Licenses must be renewed by October 1 annually.

The practice of dentistry is regulated by the Department of Licensing.  A person must hold a license in order to practice dentistry.  Licensure applicants must have specified hours of training at the high school, college, and dental school levels, and must be United States citizens.  Applicants may take an indefinite number of subsequent examinations.  Licenses are renewable annually on October 1.

There is no residence requirement for members of the Board of Examiners.

Dentists licensed in other states may be applicants for licensure in this state only if there is a similar reciprocal agreement in the other state.

SUMMARY:

Technical changes are made to the dental hygiene and dentistry practice acts.

Applicants for licensure as dental hygienists must complete relevant course work, pass an examination and not engage in unprofessional conduct.  Licenses are renewable as determined by the Director of the Department of Licensing.

The Dental Hygiene Examining Committee is expanded to include a public member.  The two dental hygiene members must be licensed and in practice for at least five years. Members may serve for three year terms or until successors are appointed, and can be removed for misconduct.  Members of the committee are declared immune from legal liability in the course of their duties.

The director is given authority to set license renewal dates and to adopt rules specifying examination subjects, passage standards, examination dates, and procedures for appeal.  The director is also given authority to implement the provisions of the law, including the establishment of minimum education requirements for applicants, and the approval of educational programs.

Exemptions from licensure are provided for dental hygienists employed by the federal government, as well as dental hygiene students.

Three of the nine members of the Board of Dental Examiners must be residents from Eastern Washington.  The expiration of terms of board members is changed from July 1 to January 1, but members may serve until their successors are appointed.  The board is authorized to adopt rules to implement the law and the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

Applicants for licensure as dentists must have graduated from schools approved by the board.  The specification of hours of training at the high school, college, and dental school level is repealed.  Examination records are open for inspection to an applicant.  Applicants are not required to be U.S. citizens.  The board must notify an applicant of an appearance before the board.  Examination papers are to be preserved for a period of one year rather than three years.  Except by leave of the board, an applicant is only entitled to take four subsequent examinations, rather than an indefinite number.  Licenses are renewable annually as determined by the director, and failure to renew for three years renders the license invalid, except by leave of the board.

Members of the board may be removed by the Governor for cause.

Applicants for licensure as dental hygienists or dentists from other states may practice in Washington without examination if they are licensed in jurisdictions with substantially equivalent standards to those in Washington.

Gender oriented language is stricken.  Other technical changes are made, including recodification of sections and the repeal of redundant sections.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 98   0

      Senate    47     0 (Senate amended)

      House 89   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989

Partial Veto Summary:  The compensation received by members of the Board of Dental Examiners and Dental Disciplinary Board for each day that the members perform their prescribed duties was raised from $50.00 to $100.00 in the bill.  The veto restores the compensation to $50.00 a day, consistent with the compensation authorized for members of other professional regulatory boards, and in accordance with the statutory policy prescribed for boards of this nature.  (See VETO MESSAGE)