BILL NUMBER: AB 648	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Low

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2015

   An act to add Section 104755.5 to the Health and Safety Code,
relating to oral health, and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 648, as introduced, Low. Community-based services: Virtual
Dental Home program.
   Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health and
sets forth its powers and duties, including, but not limited to, the
administration of a state oral health program known as the Office of
Oral Health for the purposes of, among other things, establishing
community dental disease prevention programs for schoolaged children.

   This bill would establish the Virtual Dental Home program to
expand the virtual dental home model of community-based delivery of
dental care to the residents of this state who are in greatest need,
as prescribed. The bill would authorize the administrator of the
program to, among other things, encourage development and expansion
of the delivery of dental health services in community clinics and
school programs, as prescribed.
   The bill would appropriate $4,000,000 to the department for the
purposes of this program.
   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 104755.5 is added to the Health and Safety
Code, to read:
   104755.5.  (a) The Virtual Dental Home (VDH) program is hereby
established to expand the virtual dental home model of
community-based delivery of dental care to the residents of this
state who are in greatest need.
   (b) The administrator of the program shall be the dentist
appointed by the director pursuant to Section 104755.
   (c) The VDH program shall do all of the following to facilitate
and expand the delivery of community-based dental health services:
   (1) Facilitate and encourage development and expansion of the
delivery of dental health services in schools, head start and
preschool programs, and community clinics as set forth in Section
1910.5 of the Business and Professions Code.
   (2) Encourage utilization of the teledentistry model described in
subdivision (b) of Section 14132.725 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code.
   (3) Develop related training modules.
   (4) Establish community-based learning collaboratives.
   (5) Provide grants to fund essential VDH technology and equipment.

   (d) The administrator shall seek to secure funds to expand access
to the VDH program that can be used along with other private and
public funding opportunities.
   (e) The VDH program shall be focused on providing needed services
in geographic areas of highest need, as determined by the director
after a thorough assessment, and in consultation with the
administrator and oral health stakeholders.
  SEC. 2.  The sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) is hereby
appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Public
Health for the purposes of the Virtual Dental Home (VDH) program
established pursuant to Section 104755.5 of the Health and Safety
Code.