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Legislation roundup: dental hygiene committee sets positions on a slate of bills including fluoride coverage and workforce provisions
Summary
The board’s Legislative and Regulatory Committee recommended positions on multiple bills — supporting fluoride‑treatment coverage for children, watching several health‑policy measures, and opposing a proposal to allow unlicensed dental staff extended time before completing an 8‑hour infection‑control course.
The Dental Hygiene Board’s Legislative and Regulatory Committee reviewed several bills of interest and recommended positions for the full board to consider.
Key recommendations included a staff‑recommended support position on Assembly Bill 350 (fluoride varnish coverage for children up to age 21), a recommendation to watch AB 341 (technical assistance center for oral health for people with disabilities), and a recommendation to oppose AB 873, which would have extended the period in which an unlicensed dental assistant could complete an 8‑hour infection‑control course after beginning employment.
Committee members discussed AB 341 (a proposal to contract with a California dental school to establish a technical assistance center to increase desensitization and other techniques to reduce reliance on sedation for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities). Some board members and public commenters supported inclusion of RDHAPs and other dental‑hygiene programs in any resulting program to avoid disrupting existing, locally effective RDHAP‑led desensitization and outreach efforts.
On AB 350 (fluoride treatments in primary care settings), committee staff recommended support; commenters and association representatives said the bill would expand preventive access points and recommended language ensuring linkage to a dental home and referral when needed.
On AB 873 (infection control timing), the committee heard strong concerns from hygienists and educators that permitting extended work with patients before a full 8‑hour infection control course posed consumer‑protection risks. The committee recommended an oppose position on that bill in light of those concerns.
After discussion the committee voted to recommend the following positions to the full board: watch AB 224, watch AB 341 (support if amended to include RDHAPs, per public comment), support AB 350, watch AB 371, watch AB 489, oppose AB 873, watch AB 966, watch SB 62, and watch SB 351. The committee asked staff to prepare formal letters and informed the board these positions are based on the bills as written at the time of committee review and may be revised if bills are amended.
