SB1243 - 552R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 32-1213, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE32-1213. Business entities; registration; renewal; civil penalty; exceptions

A. A business entity may not offer dental services pursuant to this chapter unless:

1. The entity is registered with the board pursuant to this section.

2. The services are conducted by a licensee pursuant to this chapter.

3. Each place of practice contains at least one automated external defibrillator.

B. The business entity must file a registration application on a form provided by the board. The application must include:

1. A description of the entity's services offered to the public.

2. The name of any dentist who is authorized to provide and who is responsible for providing the dental services offered at each office.

3. The names and addresses of the officers and directors of the business entity.

4. A registration fee prescribed by the board in rule.

C. A business entity must file a separate registration application and pay a fee for each branch office in this state.

D. A registration expires three years after the date the board issues the registration. A business entity that wishes to renew a registration must submit an application for renewal as prescribed by the board on a triennial basis on a form provided by the board before the expiration date. An entity that fails to renew the registration before the expiration date is subject to a late fee as prescribed by the board by rule. The board may stagger the dates for renewal applications.

E. The business entity must notify the board in writing within thirty days after any change:

1. In the entity's name, address or telephone number.

2. In the officers or directors of the business entity.

3. In the name of any dentist who is authorized to provide and who is responsible for providing the dental services in any facility.

F. The business entity shall establish a written protocol for the secure storage, transfer and access of the dental records of the business entity's patients. This protocol must include, at a minimum, procedures for:

1. Notifying patients of the future locations of their records if the business entity terminates or sells the practice.

2. Disposing of unclaimed dental records.

3. The timely response to requests by patients for copies of their records.

G. The business entity must notify the board within thirty days after the dissolution of any registered business entity or the closing or relocation of any facility and must disclose to the board the entity's procedure by which its patients may obtain their records.

H. The board may do any of the following pursuant to its disciplinary procedures if an entity violates the board's statutes or rules:

1. Refuse to issue a registration.

2. Suspend or revoke a registration.

3. Impose a civil penalty of not more than $2,000 for each violation.

4. Enter a decree of censure.

5. Issue an order prescribing a period and terms of probation that are best adapted to protect the public welfare and that may include a requirement for restitution to a patient for a violation of this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.

6. Issue a letter of concern if a business entity's actions may cause the board to take disciplinary action.

I. The board shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, civil penalties collected pursuant to this section in the state general fund.

J. This section does not apply to:

1. A sole proprietorship or partnership that consists exclusively of dentists who are licensed pursuant to this chapter.

2. Any of the following entities licensed under title 20:

(a) A service corporation.

(b) An insurer authorized to transact disability insurance.

(d) A health care services organization that does not provide directly for dental services.

3. A professional corporation or professional limited liability company, the shares of which are exclusively owned by dentists who are licensed pursuant to this chapter and that is formed to engage in the practice of dentistry pursuant to title 10, chapter 20 or title 29 relating to professional limited liability companies.

4. A facility regulated by the federal government or a state, district or territory of the United States.

5. An administrator or executor of the estate of a deceased dentist or a person who is legally authorized to act for a dentist who has been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent for not more than one year after the date the board receives notice of the dentist's death or incapacitation pursuant to section 32-1270.

K. A facility that offers dental services to the public by persons licensed under this chapter shall be registered by the board unless the facility is any of the following:

1. Owned by a dentist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter.

2. Regulated by the federal government or a state, district or territory of the United States.

L. Except for issues relating to insurance coding and billing that require the name, signature and license number of the dentist providing treatment, this section does not:

1. Authorize a licensee in the course of providing dental services for an entity registered pursuant to this section to disregard or interfere with a policy or practice established by the entity for the operation and management of the business.

2. Authorize an entity registered pursuant to this section to establish or enforce a business policy or practice that may interfere with the clinical judgment of the licensee in providing dental services for the entity or may compromise a licensee's ability to comply with this chapter.

M. The board shall adopt rules that provide a method for the board to receive the assistance and advice of business entities licensed pursuant to this chapter in all matters relating to the regulation of business entities.

N. An individual currently holding a surrendered or revoked license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in any state or jurisdiction in the United States may not have a majority ownership interest in the business entity registered pursuant to this section. Revocation and surrender of licensure shall be limited to disciplinary actions resulting in loss of license or surrender of license instead of disciplinary action. Dentists or dental hygienists affected by this subsection shall have one year after the surrender or revocation to divest themselves of their ownership interest. This subsection does not apply to publicly held companies. For the purposes of this subsection, "majority ownership interest" means an ownership interest greater than fifty percent.END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 32-1236, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE32-1236. Dentist triennial licensure; continuing education; license reinstatement; license for each place of practice; notice of change of address or place of practice; retired and disabled license status; penalties

A. Except as provided in section 32-4301, a license expires thirty days after the licensee's birthday every third year. On or before the licensee's birthday every third year, every licensed dentist shall submit to the board a complete renewal application and pay a license renewal fee of not more than $650, established by a formal vote of the board. At least once every three years, before establishing the fee, the board shall review the amount of the fee in a public meeting. Any change in the amount of the fee shall be applied prospectively to a licensee at the time of licensure renewal. The fee prescribed by this subsection does not apply to a retired dentist or to a dentist with a disability.

B. A licensee shall include a written affidavit with the renewal application that affirms that the licensee complies with board rules relating to continuing education requirements. A licensee is not required to complete the written affidavit if the licensee received an initial license within the year immediately preceding the expiration date of the license or the licensee is in disabled status. If the licensee is not in compliance with board rules relating to continuing education, the board may grant an extension of time to complete these requirements if the licensee includes a written request for an extension with the renewal application instead of the written affidavit and the renewal application is received on or before the licensee's birthday of the expiration year. The board shall consider the extension request based on criteria prescribed by the board by rule. If the board denies an extension request, the license expires thirty days after the licensee's birthday.

C. A person applying for licensure for the first time in this state shall pay a prorated fee for the period remaining until the licensee's next birthday. This fee shall not exceed one-third of the fee established pursuant to subsection A of this section. Subsequent licensure renewal shall be conducted pursuant to this section.

D. An expired license may be reinstated by submitting a complete renewal application within the twenty-four-month period immediately following the expiration of the license with payment of the renewal fee and a $100 penalty. Whenever issued, reinstatement is as of the date of application and entitles the applicant to licensure only for the remainder of the applicable three-year period. If a person does not reinstate a license pursuant to this subsection, the person must reapply for licensure pursuant to this chapter.

E. Each licensee must provide to the board in writing both all of the following:

1. A primary mailing address.

2. The address for each place of practice.

3. Acknowledgement that each place of practice contains at least one automated external defibrillator.

F. A licensee maintaining more than one place of practice shall obtain from the board a duplicate license for each office. A fee set by the board shall be charged for each duplicate license. The licensee shall notify the board in writing within ten days after opening the additional place or places of practice. The board shall impose a penalty of $50 for failure to notify the board.

G. A licensee who is fully retired and a licensee who has a permanent disability may contribute services to a recognized charitable institution and still retain that classification for triennial registration purposes on payment of a reduced renewal fee as prescribed by the board by rule.

H. A licensee applying for retired or disabled status shall:

1. Relinquish any prescribing privileges and shall attest by affidavit that the licensee has surrendered to the United States drug enforcement administration any registration issued pursuant to the federal controlled substances act and has surrendered to the board any registration issued pursuant to section 36-2606.

2. If the licensee holds a permit to dispense drugs and devices pursuant to section 32-1298, surrender that permit to the board.

3. Attest by affidavit that the licensee is not currently engaged in the practice of dentistry.

I. A licensee who changes the licensee's primary mailing address or place of practice address shall notify the board of that change in writing within ten days. The board shall impose a penalty of $50 if a licensee fails to notify the board of the change within that time. The board shall increase the penalty imposed to $100 if a licensee fails to notify it of the change within thirty days. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 32-1297.06, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE32-1297.06. Denturist certification; continuing education; certificate reinstatement; certificate for each place of practice; notice of change of address or place of practice; penalties

A. Except as provided in section 32-4301, a certification expires thirty days after the certificate holder's birthday every third year. On or before the certificate holder's birthday every third year, every certified denturist shall submit to the board a complete renewal application and shall pay a certificate renewal fee of not more than $300, established by a formal vote of the board. At least once every three years, before establishing the fee, the board shall review the amount of the fee in a public meeting. Any change in the amount of the fee shall be applied prospectively to a certificate holder at the time of certification renewal. This requirement does not apply to a retired denturist or to a denturist with a disability.

B. A certificate holder shall include a written affidavit with the renewal application that affirms that the certificate holder complies with board rules relating to continuing education requirements. A certificate holder is not required to complete the written affidavit if the certificate holder received an initial certification within the year immediately preceding the expiration date of the certificate or the certificate holder is in disabled status. If the certificate holder is not in compliance with board rules relating to continuing education, the board may grant an extension of time to complete these requirements if the certificate holder includes a written request for an extension with the renewal application instead of the written affidavit and the renewal application is received on or before the certificate holder's birthday of the expiration year. The board shall consider the extension request based on criteria prescribed by the board by rule. If the board denies an extension request, the certificate expires thirty days after the certificate holder's birthday of the expiration year.

C. A person applying for a certificate for the first time in this state shall pay a prorated fee for the period remaining until the certificate holder's next birthday. This fee shall not exceed one-third of the fee established pursuant to subsection A of this section. Subsequent certifications shall be conducted pursuant to this section.

D. An expired certificate may be reinstated by submitting a complete renewal application within the twenty-four-month period immediately following the expiration of the certificate with payment of the renewal fee and a $100 penalty. Whenever issued, reinstatement is as of the date of application and entitles the applicant to certification only for the remainder of the applicable three-year period. If a person does not reinstate a certificate pursuant to this subsection, the person must reapply for certification pursuant to this chapter.

E. Each certificate holder must provide to the board in writing both all of the following:

1. A primary mailing address.

2. The address for each place of practice.

3. Acknowledgement that each place of practice contains at least one automated external defibrillator.

F. A certificate holder maintaining more than one place of practice shall obtain from the board a duplicate certificate for each office. The board shall set and charge a fee for each duplicate certificate. A certificate holder shall notify the board in writing within ten days after opening an additional place of practice.

G. A certificate holder shall notify the board in writing within ten days after changing a primary mailing address or place of practice address listed with the board. The board shall impose a $50 penalty if a certificate holder fails to notify the board of the change within that time. The board shall increase the penalty imposed to $100 if a certificate holder fails to notify it of the change within thirty days.END_STATUTE