Florida Senate - 2020                                    SB 1032
       
       
        
       By Senator Baxley
       
       
       
       
       
       12-01027-20                                           20201032__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to licensure examinations for dental
    3         practitioners; amending s. 466.006, F.S.; authorizing
    4         passage of a dental examination produced by a
    5         specified entity to satisfy licensure examination
    6         requirements for applicants to practice dentistry in
    7         this state; conforming provisions to changes made by
    8         the act; making technical changes; amending s.
    9         466.007, F.S.; authorizing passage of a dental hygiene
   10         examination produced by a specified entity to satisfy
   11         licensure examination requirements for applicants to
   12         practice as dental hygienists in this state;
   13         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
   14         making technical changes; providing an effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Subsections (1) and (4), paragraph (a) of
   19  subsection (5), and paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
   20  466.006, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   21         466.006 Examination of dentists.—
   22         (1)(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to reduce the
   23  costs associated with an independent, state-developed practical
   24  or clinical examination to measure an applicant’s ability to
   25  practice the profession of dentistry and to use the American
   26  Dental Licensing Examination developed by the American Board of
   27  Dental Examiners, Inc., (ADEX) and the dental examination
   28  developed by the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) in lieu
   29  of an independent, state-developed practical or clinical
   30  examination. The Legislature finds that the American Dental
   31  Licensing Examination and WREB’s dental examination, in both
   32  their its structure and function, consistently meet meets
   33  generally accepted testing standards and have has been found, as
   34  they are it is currently organized and operated operating, to
   35  adequately and reliably measure an applicant’s ability to
   36  practice the profession of dentistry.
   37         (b) Any person desiring to be licensed as a dentist shall
   38  apply to the department to take one of the licensure
   39  examinations identified in paragraph (a) and shall verify the
   40  information required on the application by oath. The application
   41  must shall include two recent photographs. The board shall There
   42  shall be an application fee set a nonrefundable application fee,
   43  which may by the board not to exceed $100 which shall be
   44  nonrefundable. The board also There shall set also be an
   45  examination fee set by the board, which may shall not exceed
   46  $425 plus the actual per applicant cost to the department for
   47  the purchase of some or all of the examinations examination from
   48  ADEX and WREB, or their respective successor entities the
   49  American Board of Dental Examiners or its successor entity, if
   50  any, provided the board finds the successor entities’ entity’s
   51  clinical examinations comply examination complies with the
   52  provisions of this section. The examination fee may be refunded
   53  refundable if the applicant is found ineligible to take an
   54  examination the examinations.
   55         (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law in chapter
   56  456 pertaining to the clinical dental licensure examination or
   57  national examinations, to be licensed as a dentist in this
   58  state, an applicant must successfully complete both of the
   59  following:
   60         (a) A written examination on the laws and rules of the
   61  state regulating the practice of dentistry.;
   62         (b)1. A practical or clinical examination, which must shall
   63  be the American Dental Licensing Examination produced by ADEX
   64  the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., or its successor
   65  entity, if any, or the dental examination produced by WREB, or
   66  its successor entity, if any, which that is administered in this
   67  state and graded by dentists licensed in this state and employed
   68  by the department for that just such purpose, provided that the
   69  board has attained, and continues to maintain thereafter,
   70  representation, as applicable, on the ADEX board of directors of
   71  the American Board of Dental Examiners, the WREB board of
   72  directors, the ADEX examination development committee, of the
   73  American Board of Dental Examiners the WREB examination
   74  development committee, and such other committees of ADEX and
   75  WREB as the board identifies by rule as being appropriate to
   76  ensure the American Board of Dental Examiners as the board deems
   77  appropriate by rule to assure that the standards established
   78  herein are maintained organizationally. A passing score on the
   79  American Dental Licensing Examination or WREB’s dental
   80  examination that is administered in this state and graded by
   81  dentists who are licensed in this state is valid for 365 days
   82  after the date the official examination results are published.
   83         1.2.a. As an alternative to the requirements of this
   84  paragraph subparagraph 1., an applicant may submit scores from
   85  the an American Dental Licensing Examination or WREB’s dental
   86  examination that was previously administered in a jurisdiction
   87  other than this state and that was completed by the applicant
   88  after October 1, 2011, and such examination results must shall
   89  be recognized as valid for the purpose of licensure in this
   90  state. A passing score on the American Dental Licensing
   91  Examination or WREB’s dental examination that was administered
   92  out-of-state is shall be the same as the passing score for the
   93  American Dental Licensing Examination or WREB’s dental
   94  examination that was administered in this state and graded by
   95  dentists who are licensed in this state. Except as provided in
   96  subparagraph 2., the examination results are valid for 365 days
   97  after the date the official examination results are published.
   98  The applicant must have completed the examination after October
   99  1, 2011.
  100         b. This subparagraph may not be given retroactive
  101  application.
  102         2.3. If more than 365 days have passed since the date of an
  103  applicant’s passing scores from the American Dental Licensing
  104  Examination or WREB’s dental examination that was scores from an
  105  examination previously administered in a jurisdiction other than
  106  this state under subparagraph 1. 2. is older than 365 days, then
  107  such scores must shall nevertheless be recognized as valid for
  108  the purpose of licensure in this state, but only if the
  109  applicant demonstrates that all of the following additional
  110  standards have been met:
  111         a.(I) The applicant completed the American Dental Licensing
  112  Examination or WREB’s dental examination after October 1, 2011.
  113         (II) This sub-subparagraph may not be given retroactive
  114  application;
  115         b. The applicant graduated from a dental school accredited
  116  by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental
  117  Accreditation or its successor entity, if any, or any other
  118  dental accrediting organization recognized by the United States
  119  Department of Education. Provided, however, if the applicant did
  120  not graduate from such a dental school, the applicant may submit
  121  proof of having successfully completed a full-time supplemental
  122  general dentistry program accredited by the American Dental
  123  Association Commission on Dental Accreditation of at least 2
  124  consecutive academic years at such accredited sponsoring
  125  institution. Such program must provide didactic and clinical
  126  education at the level of a D.D.S. or D.M.D. program accredited
  127  by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental
  128  Accreditation;
  129         c. The applicant currently possesses a valid and active
  130  dental license in good standing, with no restriction, which has
  131  never been revoked, suspended, restricted, or otherwise
  132  disciplined, from another state or territory of the United
  133  States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto
  134  Rico;
  135         d. The applicant submits proof that he or she has never
  136  been reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank, the
  137  Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank, or the American
  138  Association of Dental Boards Clearinghouse. This sub
  139  subparagraph does not apply if the applicant successfully
  140  appealed to have his or her name removed from the data banks of
  141  these agencies;
  142         e.(I)For In the 5 years immediately preceding the date of
  143  application for licensure in this state, the applicant submits
  144  must submit proof of having been consecutively engaged in the
  145  full-time practice of dentistry in another state or territory of
  146  the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth
  147  of Puerto Rico, or, if the applicant has been licensed in
  148  another state or territory of the United States, the District of
  149  Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for less than 5
  150  years, the applicant must submit proof of having been engaged in
  151  the full-time practice of dentistry since the date of his or her
  152  initial licensure.
  153         (I)(II) As used in this sub-subparagraph and subsection (6)
  154  section, “full-time practice” is defined as a minimum of 1,200
  155  hours per year for each and every year in the consecutive 5-year
  156  period or, when where applicable, the period since initial
  157  licensure, and must include any combination of the following:
  158         (A) Active clinical practice of dentistry providing direct
  159  patient care.
  160         (B) Full-time practice as a faculty member employed by a
  161  dental or dental hygiene school approved by the board or
  162  accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on
  163  Dental Accreditation.
  164         (C) Full-time practice as a student at a postgraduate
  165  dental education program approved by the board or accredited by
  166  the American Dental Association Commission on Dental
  167  Accreditation.
  168         (II)(III) The board shall develop rules to determine what
  169  type of proof of full-time practice is required and to recoup
  170  the cost to the board of verifying full-time practice under this
  171  section. Such proof must, at a minimum, be:
  172         (A) Admissible as evidence in an administrative proceeding;
  173         (B) Submitted in writing;
  174         (C) Submitted by the applicant under oath with penalties of
  175  perjury attached;
  176         (D) Further documented by an affidavit of someone unrelated
  177  to the applicant who is familiar with the applicant’s practice
  178  and testifies with particularity that the applicant has been
  179  engaged in full-time practice; and
  180         (E) Specifically found by the board to be both credible and
  181  admissible.
  182         (III)(IV) An affidavit of only the applicant is not
  183  acceptable proof of full-time practice unless it is further
  184  attested to by someone unrelated to the applicant who has
  185  personal knowledge of the applicant’s practice. If the board
  186  deems it necessary to assess credibility or accuracy, the board
  187  may require the applicant or the applicant’s witnesses to appear
  188  before the board and give oral testimony under oath;
  189         f. The applicant submits must submit documentation that he
  190  or she has completed, or will complete, prior to licensure in
  191  this state, continuing education equivalent to this state’s
  192  requirements for the last full reporting biennium;
  193         g. The applicant proves must prove that he or she has never
  194  been convicted of, or pled nolo contendere to, regardless of
  195  adjudication, any felony or misdemeanor related to the practice
  196  of a health care profession in any jurisdiction;
  197         h. The applicant must successfully passes pass a written
  198  examination on the laws and rules of this state regulating the
  199  practice of dentistry and must successfully pass the computer
  200  based diagnostic skills examination; and
  201         i. The applicant submits must submit documentation that he
  202  or she has successfully completed the National Board of Dental
  203  Examiners dental examination.
  204         (5)(a) The practical examination required under subsection
  205  (4) must shall be the American Dental Licensing Examination
  206  developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., or
  207  its successor entity, if any, provided the board finds that the
  208  successor entity’s clinical examination complies with the
  209  provisions of this section, and shall include, at a minimum:
  210         1. A comprehensive diagnostic skills examination covering
  211  the full scope of dentistry and an examination on applied
  212  clinical diagnosis and treatment planning in dentistry for
  213  dental candidates;
  214         2. Two restorations on a live patient or patients. The
  215  board by rule shall determine the class of such restorations;
  216         3. A demonstration of periodontal skills on a live patient;
  217         4. A demonstration of prosthetics and restorative skills in
  218  complete and partial dentures and crowns and bridges and the
  219  utilization of practical methods of evaluation, specifically
  220  including the evaluation by the candidate of completed
  221  laboratory products such as, but not limited to, crowns and
  222  inlays filled to prepared model teeth;
  223         5. A demonstration of restorative skills on a mannequin
  224  which requires the candidate to complete procedures performed in
  225  preparation for a cast restoration;
  226         6. A demonstration of endodontic skills; and
  227         7. A diagnostic skills examination demonstrating ability to
  228  diagnose conditions within the human oral cavity and its
  229  adjacent tissues and structures from photographs, slides,
  230  radiographs, or models pursuant to rules of the board. If an
  231  applicant fails to pass the diagnostic skills examination in
  232  three attempts, the applicant is shall not be eligible for
  233  reexamination unless she or he completes additional educational
  234  requirements established by the board.
  235  
  236  The department shall require a mandatory standardization
  237  exercise for all examiners prior to each practical or clinical
  238  examination and shall retain for employment only those dentists
  239  who have substantially adhered to the standard of grading
  240  established at such exercise.
  241         (6)(a) It is the finding of The Legislature finds that it
  242  is an important state interest to improve access to dental care
  243  for underserved citizens of this state and to further the
  244  economic development goals of the state, and that, absent a
  245  threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the public, the
  246  relocation of individuals who are lawfully and currently
  247  practicing dentistry in another state or territory of the United
  248  States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto
  249  Rico, as applicants to practice dentistry within the geographic
  250  boundaries of this state, who are lawfully and currently
  251  practicing dentistry in another state or territory of the United
  252  States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto
  253  Rico, based on their scores from the American Dental Licensing
  254  Examination or WREB’s dental examination administered in a state
  255  other than this state, is substantially related to achieving
  256  those the important state interests interest of improving access
  257  to dental care for underserved citizens of this state and
  258  furthering the economic development goals of the state.
  259  Therefore, in order to maintain valid active licensure in this
  260  state, all applicants for licensure who are relocating to this
  261  state based on scores from the American Dental Licensing
  262  Examination or WREB’s dental examination administered in a state
  263  other than this state shall must actually engage in the full
  264  time practice of dentistry, as defined in sub-subparagraph
  265  (4)(b)2.e., inside the geographic boundaries of this state
  266  within 1 year after of receiving such licensure in this state.
  267  The Legislature further finds that, if such applicants do not
  268  actually engage in the full-time practice of dentistry within
  269  the geographic boundaries of this state within 1 year after of
  270  receiving such a license in this state, access to dental care
  271  for the public will not significantly increase, patients’
  272  continuity of care will not be attained, and the economic
  273  development goals of the state will not be significantly met.
  274         Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) and subsections
  275  (5) and (6) of section 466.007, Florida Statutes, are amended to
  276  read:
  277         466.007 Examination of dental hygienists.—
  278         (4) Effective July 1, 2012, to be licensed as a dental
  279  hygienist in this state, an applicant must successfully complete
  280  the following:
  281         (b) A practical or clinical examination, which must
  282  approved by the board. The examination shall be the Dental
  283  Hygiene Examination produced by the American Board of Dental
  284  Examiners, Inc., (ADEX) or its successor entity, if any, or the
  285  dental hygiene examination produced by the Western Regional
  286  Examining Board (WREB), or its successor entity, if any, if the
  287  board finds that the successor entities’ entity’s clinical
  288  examination meets or exceeds the provisions of this section. The
  289  board shall approve the ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination and
  290  WREB’s dental hygiene examination if the board has attained and
  291  continues to maintain representation, as applicable, on the ADEX
  292  House of Representatives, the WREB board of directors, the ADEX
  293  dental hygiene examination development committee, the WREB
  294  dental hygiene examination review board, and such other ADEX and
  295  WREB dental hygiene committees as the board identifies by rule
  296  as being appropriate deems appropriate through rulemaking to
  297  ensure that the standards established in this section are
  298  maintained organizationally. The ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination
  299  and WREB’s dental hygiene examination, or the examination
  300  produced by their respective successor entities, if any, its
  301  successor entity is a comprehensive examination in which an
  302  applicant must demonstrate skills within the dental hygiene
  303  scope of practice on a live patient and any other components
  304  that the board deems necessary for the applicant to successfully
  305  demonstrate competency for the purpose of licensure. The ADEX
  306  Dental Hygiene Examination and WREB’s dental hygiene
  307  examination, or the examination produced by their respective
  308  successor entities, if any, by the successor entity administered
  309  in this state shall be graded by dentists and dental hygienists
  310  licensed in this state who are employed by the department for
  311  this purpose.
  312         (5) Effective July 1, 2012, an applicant who has completed
  313  the ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination or WREB’s dental hygiene
  314  examination in a jurisdiction other than this state and who has
  315  obtained a passing score may practice dental hygiene in this
  316  state if the applicant:
  317         (a) Has successfully completed the National Board Dental
  318  Hygiene Examination at any time before the date of application;
  319         (b) Has been certified by the American Dental Association
  320  Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations at any time
  321  before the date of application, as specified by state law;
  322         (c) Has successfully completed a written examination on the
  323  laws and rules of this state regulating the practice of dental
  324  hygiene;
  325         (d) Has not been disciplined by a board, except for
  326  citation offenses or minor violations; and
  327         (e) Has not been convicted of or pled nolo contendere to,
  328  regardless of adjudication, any felony or misdemeanor related to
  329  the practice of a health care profession.
  330         (6)(a) A passing score on the ADEX Dental Hygiene
  331  Examination or WREB’s dental hygiene examination that is
  332  administered out of state is shall be considered the same as a
  333  passing score for the ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination or WREB’s
  334  dental hygiene examination administered in this state and graded
  335  by licensed dentists and dental hygienists licensed in this
  336  state.
  337         (b) If an applicant fails to pass the ADEX Dental Hygiene
  338  Examination or WREB’s dental hygiene examination in three
  339  attempts, the applicant is not eligible to retake the
  340  examination unless the applicant completes additional education
  341  requirements as specified by the board.
  342         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.