Today's Law As Amended


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AB-2331 Dentistry: applicants to practice.(2015-2016)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 1632 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

1632.
 (a) The board shall require each applicant to successfully complete the written examination Part I and Part II written examinations  of the National Board Dental Examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
(b) The board shall require each applicant to successfully complete an examination in California law and ethics developed and administered by the board. The board shall provide a separate application for this examination. The board shall ensure that the law and ethics examination reflects current law and regulations, and ensure that the examinations are randomized. Applicants shall submit this application and required fee to the board in order to take this examination. In addition to the aforementioned application, the only other requirement for taking this examination shall be certification from the dean of the qualifying dental school or the dean’s delegate  attended by the applicant that the applicant has graduated, or will graduate, or is expected to graduate. Applicants who submit completed applications and certification from the dean at least 15 days prior to a scheduled examination shall be scheduled to take the examination. Successful results of the examination shall, as established by board regulation, remain valid for two years from the date that the applicant is notified of having passed the examination.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 1632.5, the board shall require each applicant to have taken and received a passing score on one of the following:
(1) (A)  A portfolio examination of the applicant’s competence to enter the practice of dentistry. This examination shall be conducted while the applicant is enrolled in a dental school program at a board-approved school located in California. This examination shall utilize uniform standards of clinical experiences and competencies, as approved by the board pursuant to Section 1632.1. The applicant shall pass a final assessment of the submitted portfolio at the end of the applicant’s  his or her  dental school program. Before any portfolio assessment may be submitted to the board, the applicant shall remit the required fee to the board to be deposited into the State Dentistry Fund, and a letter of good standing signed by the dean of the applicant’s  his or her  dental school or the dean’s  his or her  delegate stating that the applicant has graduated or will graduate with no pending ethical issues.
(A) The portfolio examination shall not be conducted until the board adopts regulations to carry out this paragraph. The board shall post notice on its Internet Web site when these regulations have been adopted.
(B) The board shall provide a report on how many other states have recognized licensure by portfolio examination at the time of its sunset review pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 1601.1. The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.  also provide written notice to the Legislature and the Legislative Counsel when these regulations have been adopted. 
(2) Either one of the following examinations:
(A) A clinical and written examination administered by the Western Regional Examining Board within five years prior to the date of their application for a license under this section. Board. 
(B) The clinical and written examination developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., within five years prior to the date of their application for a license under this section. Inc. 
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 1628, the board is authorized to do either of the following:
(1) Approve an application for examination from, and to examine an applicant who is enrolled in, but has not yet graduated from, a reputable dental school approved by the board.
(2) Accept the results of an examination described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) submitted by an applicant who was enrolled in, but had not graduated from, a reputable dental school approved by the board at the time the examination was administered.
In either case, the board shall require the dean of that school or the dean’s  his or her  delegate to furnish satisfactory proof that the applicant will graduate within one year of the date the examination was administered or as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).
(e) The board may determine the testing format, as related to patients, for the examination provided pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).

SEC. 1.5.

 Section 1632 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

1632.
 (a) The board shall require each applicant to successfully complete the written examination of the National Board Dental Examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
(b) The board shall require each applicant to successfully complete an examination in California law and ethics developed and administered by the board. The board shall provide a separate application for this examination. The board shall ensure that the law and ethics examination reflects current law and regulations, and ensure that the examinations are randomized. Applicants shall submit this application and required fee to the board in order to take this examination. In addition to the aforementioned application, the only other requirement for taking this examination shall be certification from the dean of the qualifying dental school or the dean’s delegate  attended by the applicant that the applicant has graduated, or will graduate, or is expected to graduate. Applicants who submit completed applications and certification from the dean at least 15 days prior to a scheduled examination shall be scheduled to take the examination. Successful results of the examination shall, as established by board regulation, remain valid for two years from the date that the applicant is notified of having passed the examination.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 1632.5, the board shall require each applicant to have taken and received a passing score on one of the following:
(1) (A)  A portfolio examination of the applicant’s competence to enter the practice of dentistry. This examination shall be conducted while the applicant is enrolled in a dental school program at a board-approved school located in California. This examination shall utilize uniform standards of clinical experiences and competencies, as approved by the board pursuant to Section 1632.1. The applicant shall pass a final assessment of the submitted portfolio at the end of the applicant’s  his or her  dental school program. Before any portfolio assessment may be submitted to the board, the applicant shall remit the required fee to the board to be deposited into the State Dentistry Fund, and a letter of good standing signed by the dean of the applicant’s  his or her  dental school or the dean’s  his or her  delegate stating that the applicant has graduated or will graduate with no pending ethical issues.
(A) The portfolio examination shall not be conducted until the board adopts regulations to carry out this paragraph. The board shall post notice on its Internet Web site when these regulations have been adopted.
(B) The board shall provide a report on how many other states have recognized licensure by portfolio examination at the time of its sunset review pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 1601.1. The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.  also provide written notice to the Legislature and the Legislative Counsel when these regulations have been adopted. 
(2) Either one of the following examinations:  
(A) A clinical and written examination administered by the Western Regional Examining Board within five years prior to the date of their application for a license under this section. Board. 
(B) The clinical and written examination developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., within five years prior to the date of their application for a license under this section. Inc.  
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 1628, the board is authorized to do either of the following:
(1) Approve an application for examination from, and to examine an applicant who is enrolled in, but has not yet graduated from, a reputable dental school approved by the board.
(2) Accept the results of an examination described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) submitted by an applicant who was enrolled in, but had not graduated from, a reputable dental school approved by the board at the time the examination was administered.
In either case, the board shall require the dean of that school or the dean’s  his or her  delegate to furnish satisfactory proof that the applicant will graduate within one year of the date the examination was administered or as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).
 (e) The board may determine the testing format, as related to patients, for the examination provided pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).

SEC. 2.

 Section 1632.55 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

1632.55.
 (a) Prior to implementation of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 1632, the department’s Office of Professional Examination Services shall review the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. examination to ensure compliance with the requirements of Section 139 and to certify that the examination process meets those standards, and deliver this review to the Dental Board of California. If the department determines that the examination process fails to meet those standards, does not deliver the review to the Dental Board of California, or if the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. fails to pay the costs and expenses the board incurs, as described in subdivision (d), subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 1632 shall not be implemented.
(b) The American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. examination process shall be regularly reviewed by the department pursuant to Section 139.
(c) The American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. examination shall meet the mandates of subdivision (a) of Section 12944 of the Government Code.
(d) The American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses the board incurs for the purposes of implementing this section.
(e) The American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. examination may only be accepted for licensure by a candidate after it is determined that the examination has met the requirements of this section. Examinations taken prior to that date may not be used for licensure.

SEC. 3.

 Section 1632.7 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

1632.7.
 The Department of Finance may accept funds pursuant to Sections 11005.1 and 16302 of the Government Code for the purposes of reviewing and analyzing the examination developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., as described in Section 1632.55.
SEC. 4.
 Section 1.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 1632 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 1478. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2017, (2) each bill amends Section 1632 of the Business and Professions Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 1478, in which case Section 1 of this bill shall not become operative.