| Summary |
The bill adopts the dentist and dental hygienist compact (compact)
to facilitate the interstate practice of dentistry and dental hygiene. With
the adoption of the compact, a dentist or dental hygienist who holds an
active, unencumbered license in a participating state and does not have an
encumbered license from any participating state may apply to another
participating state (remote state) for a privilege to practice dentistry or
dental hygiene, as applicable, (compact privilege) in that state.
Under a compact privilege, the dentist or dental hygienist must
practice within the scope of practice authorized for a dentist or dental
hygienist licensed in the remote state and is subject to the remote state's
licensing authority, which may, within the borders of the remote state,
take adverse action against the dentist's or dental hygienist's compact
privilege in order to protect the health and safety of its citizens. If a
remote state, acting through its licensing authority, takes adverse action,
the dentist's or dental hygienist's compact privilege in all remote states is
removed until any restriction on the compact privilege is removed. Only
the participating state in which the dentist or dental hygienist is licensed
may take adverse action against the dental or dental hygienist's license;
however, a remote state may take adverse action against the dentist's or
dental hygienist's compact privilege in the remote state.
The compact creates the dentist and dental hygienist compact
commission (commission). The commission consists of one commissioner
from each participating state who is selected by the state's licensing
authority. The compact authorizes the commission to create the
administrative structure for the compact, including granting the powers
necessary to establish and operate the commission, adopt rules and
bylaws, establish an executive committee, hire employees, establish an
office, and conduct the commission's meetings. Further, the commission
shall develop and maintain a coordinated database and reporting system
to include significant investigatory information from participating states
concerning the dentist's or dental hygienist's practice and to record any
adverse action against the dentist or dental hygienist.
To pay the costs associated with the compact, the compact
authorizes the commission to levy and collect an annual assessment from
each participating state and to impose fees on licensees for the granting
or renewal of a compact privilege; except that an active military member
or the member's spouse will not be required to pay the commission's fee
for a compact privilege.
The compact includes provisions governing disputes among
participating states and between the commission and a participating state,
enforcement provisions, and withdrawal of participating states from the
compact.
The compact is effective for participating states on the date on
which the compact is enacted in the seventh participating state.
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