HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1894

As Amended by the Senate

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

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, Sommers, Sprenkle, Vekich and Wolfe.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The general authority of the director of Licensing for implementing the law is not specified.  There are no exemptions from licensure provided by law.  The practice of dental hygiene is regulated by the Department of Licensing, and a person must hold a license in order to practice.

Currently, 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.

Licenses must be renewed by October 1 annually.

The practice of dentistry is regulated by the Department of Licensing, and a person must hold a license in order to practice.  There is no residence requirement for members of the Board of Examiners. Hours of training are specified at the high school, college, and dental school levels for applicants, and citizenship is a requirement.  Applicants may take an indefinite number of subsequent examinations.  Licenses are renewable annually on October 1.

SUMMARY:

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

Applicants for licensure must complete relevant course work, pass an examination and not engage in unprofessional conduct.  Licenses are renewable as determined by the director.

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 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, adopt rules specifying examination subjects, setting passage standards, setting examination dates, and establishing procedures for appeal.  The director is also given authority to implement generally 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 are to serve until 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. The records of the examination are open for inspection to an applicant.  Citizenship is no longer a requirement.  The applicant is to be notified by the board for an appearance before the board.  Examination papers are to be preserved for a period of one year rather than three years.  An applicant is entitled to take four subsequent examinations, except by leave of the board, 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 and dentists from out of state may practice in this state without examination if they are licensed in jurisdictions with substantially equivalent standards to this state.

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

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  An appropriation of $119,969 is made from the health professions account.  With regard to the licensure of applicants from other states as dental hygienists or dentists, an applicant is required to provide documentation to the board attesting to the fact that he or she holds a license in that state, and must provide information on any unprofessional conduct, as well as demonstrate a knowledge of Washington law pertaining to the practice.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 14, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Linda Christopherson, Washington State Dental Association and Jeff Larsen, Washington State Dental Hygienists.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    These technical changes to the dental hygiene and dental practice act are necessary for an improved administration of the licensure programs.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 98