HB 2026: dental board; formal hearings - Arizona

Senate Engrossed Version → Chaptered Version · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Arizona's dental board statutes to clarify complaint investigation procedures, update disciplinary actions, and expand dental hygienist supervision and practice authority. The changes modernize the board's enforcement tools and allow hygienists to perform additional procedures under specific conditions.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of practice for dental hygienists by adding new procedures they may perform under direct or general supervision, and clarifies when they may work under physician supervision in hospital settings.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the statute to clarify that the board may order summary suspension of a license when public health requires emergency action during investigations.

Added new actions the board may take after investigation, including entering consent agreements and ordering nondisciplinary continuing education.

Expanded dental hygienist scope to include interim therapeutic restorations after completing an accredited course.

Added provisions allowing dental hygienists to administer local anesthetics and nitrous oxide under specific supervision and certification requirements.

Added definitions for key terms including assessment, dental hygiene treatment planning, direct supervision, and general supervision.

Added protections for licensees who file complaints against registered business entities that interfere with clinical judgment.

House Engrossed Version → Senate Engrossed Version · 6 edits · Apr 8, 2025

MODERATE

This bill expands the scope of practice for licensed dental hygienists in Arizona by adding new procedures they can perform, including restorative functions, interim therapeutic restorations, and expanded local anesthesia administration under specific conditions. It also adds a new section defining dental hygiene practices and supervision requirements, allowing hygienists to work under general supervision of physicians in hospital settings and under direct supervision for certain anesthesia procedures. These changes aim to increase access to dental care by allowing hygienists to perform more comprehensive treatments.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of practice from only dental hygiene procedures to include restorative functions, interim therapeutic restorations, and expanded local anesthesia administration under specific conditions.

SCOPE

Added new section 32-1281 defining dental hygiene practice and supervision requirements, including procedures hygienists can perform under general or direct supervision.

Expanded dental hygienist scope to include restorative functions permissible for expanded function dental assistants and interim therapeutic restorations after completing accredited training.

Modified the bill title and description to reflect expanded scope from only dental board hearings to include hygienist supervision provisions.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for local anesthesia administration including completion of accredited courses, passing examinations, and board certification.

Added provision allowing dental hygienists to practice under general supervision of physicians in inpatient hospital settings.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for assessment, dental hygiene assessment, dental hygiene treatment planning, direct supervision, general supervision, interim therapeutic restoration, and screening.

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version · 5 edits · Apr 8, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends the Arizona Dental Board's complaint investigation and adjudication procedures, primarily by adding new options for resolving complaints without formal hearings and clarifying the process for handling complaints against registered business entities. The changes expand the board's ability to use consent agreements and nondisciplinary continuing education as resolution tools, while also establishing a new requirement for dentists to notify dental practices before filing complaints about unethical conduct.

Scope change

The bill expands the Dental Board's authority to resolve complaints through alternative means (consent agreements, continuing education orders) and adds specific procedures for complaints involving registered business entities.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for dentists to notify registered business entities in writing before filing complaints about unethical conduct, including a 10-day response period.

ENFORCEMENT

Added consent agreements as a new option for resolving disciplinary matters, allowing the board to settle cases without formal hearings.

Added nondisciplinary continuing education as a formal resolution option for insufficient cases, replacing the previous letter of concern option.

Modified the complaint resolution process to include multiple new options when formal interviews or hearings are insufficient to warrant suspension or revocation.

MODIFIED

Minor formatting and capitalization changes throughout the document, including standardizing section headers and text formatting.

dental board; formal hearings

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