HB 132 Summary

• Patient Abandonment: Defines patient abandonment as grounds for disciplinary action, requiring dentists to provide at least 15 days' notice before terminating treatment and offering emergency care information and alternative dentist options.

• Mobile Dental Facilities: Expands exemption from registration to include all mobile dental facilities operated by Alabama Department of Public Health or local county health departments, not just Jefferson County facilities.

• Cross-State Practice: Changes exemption for infrequent cross-state dental practice from "less than 10 times per year" to "less than 10 days per year" and removes exemption for practices involving fewer than 10 patients annually.

• Licensing and Board Operations: Extends time to take licensure exam to within 18 months after completing a post-doctoral residency program; requires license certificate display in visible locations; allows practitioners to reproduce annual registration certificates; and prohibits appointed board members from succeeding themselves.

• Disciplinary and Administrative Changes: Increases dental hygiene regional exam application fee from $75 to $500; authorizes board to recognize additional continuing education providers and establish specialty status approval independent of the American Dental Association; requires proof of continuing education for oral conscious sedation permit renewal.