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Board advances mobile dental-hygiene clinic rules and related regulatory packages
Summary
The board approved responses to public comments and authorized staff to complete rulemaking for CCR Title 16 sections 1116 and 1116.5 (mobile dental hygiene clinics and RDH alternative practice registration), continued rulemaking on reinstatement of withdrawn programs (CCR 1105.4), and directed staff to pursue statutory language allowing dental hygiene students to practice at sponsored events (BPC 19.15.1) for 2025 sponsorship.
The Dental Hygiene Board of California voted July 20 to move forward with multiple regulatory packages aimed at clarifying mobile clinic approvals, RDH alternative-practice facility registration, and the reinstatement process for withdrawn dental hygiene educational programs.
The legislative and regulatory committee reported that the board noticed proposed rulemaking for 16 CCR sections 1116 and 1116.5 with 45‑day and subsequent 15‑day comment periods; staff received a small number of public comments and drafted responses. Justin Matthews moved that the board accept the committee’s recommendation to approve the draft responses to public comments and to authorize the executive officer to take necessary steps to complete rulemaking and adopt the proposed regulations at CCR sections 1116 and 1116.5; Michael Long seconded and the motion passed on roll call.
The board also approved amended language and continued rulemaking for CCR 1105.4, which addresses the appeals process and reinstatement of withdrawn dental hygiene educational programs. Committee materials and redline/clean versions of proposed language were made available to members and the public.
On statutory policy, the board reviewed draft statutory language modeled on AB 936 (which allows dental students to practice at sponsored events) to permit dental hygiene students to participate in supervised, sponsored health events. The committee recommended completing the draft, determining additional language needs, and directing staff to seek sponsored legislation for 2025. The board accepted that recommendation and directed staff accordingly.
Public commenters, including the California Dental Association, provided technical suggestions (for example, radiograph-use language in mobile settings) focused on consumer protection and safety; the board asked staff to incorporate revisions and respond to commenters as part of the rulemaking record.
Next steps: executive officer is authorized to finalize responses and proceed with rulemaking notices and adoption steps where no adverse comments are received; staff will draft and pursue sponsored legislation for BPC 19.15.1 in 2025.
