BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2331 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 20, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Lorena Gonzalez, Chair AB 2331 (Dababneh) - As Amended April 12, 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Business and Professions |Vote:|16 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill adds an additional examination option for meeting the requirements for licensure as a dentist. Specifically, this bill: 1)Adds the Patient Centered Curriculum Integrated Dental Examination Format developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. (ADEX exam) as a qualifying examination for dental licensure applicants. AB 2331 Page 2 2)Requires, prior to acceptance of the ADEX exam, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES) to perform a review and certify that the examination process meets certain standards. Specifies if the review is not performed or the exam does not meet the standards, that the Board shall not accept the exam. 3)Authorizes the Department of Finance to accept funds, pursuant to existing law, for the purposes of implementing the ADEX exam review and acceptance. FISCAL EFFECT: One-time costs to the Dental Board and to the OPES of $200,000 to perform reviews and issue regulations (State Dentistry Fund). These costs could be reimbursed by private donations as the bill authorizes; however, the requirement to perform the review is not contingent on such donation. Ongoing costs will depend upon volume of additional applications. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. The intent of this bill is to provide an additional exam option that will allow out-of-state dental students seeking to practice in California, including California residents choosing to return to their home state, the opportunity to take the exam in other states where it is administered. The sponsors of this bill, ADEX, Inc., indicate the exam is similar to the portfolio exam, a clinical exam option recently adopted by the Board. 2)Background. Prior to accepting an exam as a qualification for AB 2331 Page 3 licensure, a Board must ensure an exam is valid, which requires occupational analysis and psychometric testing. OPES employs test validation and development specialists who are trained to develop and analyze occupational licensing examinations. Existing clinical exam options are only available in California. Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081