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Committee advances change to infection-control training timeline for unlicensed dental assistants
Summary
AB 873 would give unlicensed dental assistants up to 90 days to complete an eight-hour infection-control course and authorize the Dental Board of California to approve virtual courses.
Assemblymember Alanis presented AB 873, which would revise the timing for infection-control training required of unlicensed dental assistants and provide the Dental Board of California authority to approve virtual infectious-control courses.
"AB 873 will repeal the urgency, the strict timing requirements for unlicensed dental assistants to complete the 8 hour infectious control course and replace it with a 90 day deadline," the author told the committee. The bill also preserves the ability of licensed dentists to supervise assistants.
Lawrence Gayden of the California Dental Association said the recent change (requiring completion before employment) "has had a catastrophic impact on the dental industry" by delaying hires, particularly in rural areas where course availability is limited. He argued the 90-day window would balance patient safety and workforce needs because new hires would still receive Cal/OSHA-required training and work under direct supervision.
Jennifer Tannehill, representing the California Dental Hygienists Association, expressed concern about worker and patient safety and urged a 30-day requirement rather than 90 days. She asked that employers be required to ensure OSHA training occurs before exposure to infectious material, saying enforcement of that OSHA training is inconsistent.
Committee amendments were accepted; the motion to pass AB 873 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations was recorded.
