HB 481 Summary

• Renames the State Board of Dental Examiners to the State Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene and updates all references throughout Title 24 Chapter 11.

• Grants the Board authority to conduct criminal background checks on applicants, obtain hospital disciplinary records via subpoena, and require applicants to affirm physical and mental capability to practice.

• Increases monetary penalties for disciplinary violations (from $500-$2,000 to $1,000-$5,000) and allows the Board to determine whether administrative penalties constitute grounds to deny licensure.

• Establishes that dental assistants, dental technicians, and dental auxiliary personnel cannot serve on the Board or Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee if from the same practice, and permits the Advisory Committee to vote on hygienist disciplinary actions and dental hygiene policy matters.

• Adds duty-to-report requirements for licensees regarding arrests or convictions related to dental practice, and clarifies that licensees failing to renew within one year of expiration must reapply as new applicants.