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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
dental board; licenses; certificates; renewals
Purpose
Beginning January 1, 2021, changes the expiration date and renewal deadline for certain dental professional licenses and certificates.
Background
The Arizona State Board of Dental
Examiners (BODEX) regulates and licenses dental professionals, including
dentists, dental consultants, dental hygienists and dental therapists.
Additionally, BODEX regulates and certificates denturists. BODEX is responsible
for:
1) investigating and reviewing complaints against licensees and certificate
holders; and
2) maintaining a record of its proceedings regarding licensure and disposition
of complaints (A.R.S. §§ 32-1207
and 32-1263.02)
The practice of dentistry is the diagnosis, surgical or nonsurgical treatment and performance of related adjunctive procedures for any disease, pain, deformity, deficiency, injury or physical condition of the human tooth or teeth, alveolar process, gums, lips, cheek, jaws, oral cavity and associated tissues, including the removal of stains, discolorations and concretions (A.R.S. § 32-1202).
Currently,
certain dental professional licenses and certificates expire on June 30. A
first-time applicant for a dental professional license or certificate must pay
a prorated fee for the period remaining until the next June 30. Every licensed
dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist and certified denturist must renew
their license or certificate every three years by the June 30 expiration date.
Dental professional licensees and certificate holders must additionally include
an affidavit affirming the licensee's or certificate holder's compliance with continuing
education requirements. If the licensee or certificate holder fails to comply
with the continuing education requirements, BODEX may grant an extension if the
licensee or certificate holder includes a written request for an extension with
the renewal application before the June 30 deadline. If BODEX denies an
extension request, the license or certificate expires on August 30 (A.R.S.
§§ 32-1236;
32-1263.02;
32-1287;
and 32-1297.06;
and A.A.C.
R4-11-1201).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Expires, every three years, dental professional licenses and certificates 30 days after the licensee's or certificate holder's birthday, rather than on June 30.
2. Requires, every three years, a licensed or certified dental professional to submit to BODEX a renewal application by the licensee's or certificate holder's birthday, rather than by June 30.
3. Specifies that, if BODEX denies an applicant's extension request to complete continuing education requirements, a dental professional's license or certificate expires 30 days after the licensee's or certificate holder's birthday, rather than on August 30 of the license or certificate expiration year.
4. Requires a first-time applicant for a dental professional license or certificate to pay a prorated fee for the period remaining until the licensee's or certificate holder's next birthday, instead of until the next June 30.
5. Applies the license and certificate expiration date and renewal deadline changes to the following dental professionals:
a) dentists;
b) dental therapists;
c) dental hygienists; and
d) denturists.
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
7. Becomes effective on January 1, 2021.
House Action
HHS 1/23/20 DP 9-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/13/20 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 2, 2020
CRS/AB/kja