Dental Board backs amended infection-control bill after weekslong debate over fees, virtual courses and hands-on training

The Dental Board of California on May 15 voted to support a set of amendments to Assembly Bill 873 that would (1) increase provider application fees to cover board costs, (2) allow newly hired unlicensed dental assistants up to 90 days to complete an eight‑hour infection‑control course, and (3) remove a provision that would have barred the use of electronic infection‑control courses for licensure applicants.

Board staff and outside groups told members the bill is intended to fix implementation problems created by earlier reforms and to set fees at levels that cover the board’s workload. The board approved multiple, separate motions that together authorize staff to ask the bill author to include the board’s proposals and to allow the executive committee to change the board’s position if the requested amendments are adopted.

The board’s action followed extended public comment and internal debate about three distinct issues in the bill: who pays to review and reapprove new courses, how quickly a newly hired unlicensed assistant must complete infection‑control training, and whether an online infection‑control course without a clinic‑based component should qualify people applying for RDA or other permits.

“The fee that is charged by the board does not cover staff costs,” said Brent Nelson, legislative and regulatory specialist, summarizing staff analysis that the board would need to set…