HB 564 Summary

• Renames the "Board of Dental Examiners" to the "Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene" to better reflect the board's regulatory scope and functions.

• Increases board membership from 12 to 15 members effective July 1, 2018, expanding dental hygienist representation from 2 to 5 members with 3 from Oahu and 2 from neighbor islands.

• Requires at least one dentist board member to have a public health dentistry background to ensure diverse professional perspectives.

• Authorizes neighbor island board members to attend meetings via teleconference to reduce travel burden and scheduling conflicts for island practitioners.

• Mandates the board develop a conflict of interest policy regarding board member participation with dental examination companies and report on its status to the legislature before the 2018 regular session.