BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                          SB 540 (Price)
          
          Hearing Date: 5/23/2011         Amended: 5/12/2011
          Consultant: Bob Franzoia        Policy Vote: B,P&ED 9-0
          _________________________________________________________________
          ____
          BILL SUMMARY: SB 540 would do the following:
          - Extend, from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2016 the operation 
          of the Dental Board of California and specify the board is 
          subject to review by committees of the Legislature.
          - Change the board membership to delete the dental hygienist and 
          the dental assistant members and add three additional public 
          members appointed by the Governor.
          - Create the Dental Assisting Council (council) of the board to 
          consider matters relating to dental assistants and make 
          recommendations to the board.
          - Require the board to adopt written guidelines on how to make 
          probation assignments and to ensure that probationary and 
          evaluation reports are conducted appropriately.
          - Provide that all diversion records for a licensee shall be 
          provided to the board's enforcement program and may be used in 
          any disciplinary proceeding, including if the licensee tests 
          positive for banned substances.
          - Require fees relating to the licensing and permitting of 
          dental assistants be established by regulation and not by 
          resolution.
          - Require monies remaining in the California Dental Corps Load 
          Repayment Program of 2002 to be distributed until all of the 
          moneys are expended.
          - Make other technical and policy changes.
          _________________________________________________________________
          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2011-12      2012-13       2013-14     Fund
           Committee              Up to $60  Up to $120  Up to $120Special*
          * State Dentistry Fund
          _________________________________________________________________
          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: The council shall consider matters relating to 
          dental assistants and make appropriate recommendations to the 
          board, including:








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          - Requirements for dental assistant examination, licensure, and 
          renewal.
          - Standards for approval of dental assisting educational 
          programs and courses.
          - Allowable dental assistant duties, settings, and supervision 
          levels.
          - Appropriate standards of conduct and enforcement for dental 
          assistants.
          It is estimated that up to one personnel year annually will be 
          required to assist the council with its workload.

          The Dental Corps Loan Repayment Program was established by 
          Chapter 1131/2002 to increase the number of primary care 
          physicians and dentists who practice in historically underserved 
          areas by providing grants to help pay for the high cost of 
          attending medical or dental school.  The chapter created the 
          Dentally Underserved Account to be funded by a $3,000,000 
          transfer from the State Dentistry Fund which, beginning July 1, 
          2003, would be appropriated over three years in $1,000,000 
          increments. Due to limited participation, $1,756,000 remains in 
          the account balance.