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Board adopts standardized violation‑and‑fine rubric for dental hygiene education programs
Summary
To reduce inconsistent penalties, the Dental Hygiene Board of California approved a draft violation-and-fine rubric to guide citations, fines and probation decisions for dental hygiene educational programs; staff will apply the rubric during program reviews and site visits.
The Dental Hygiene Board of California voted March 28 to approve a draft violation‑and‑fine rubric developed by a task force of board members and appointed stakeholders. The rubric lays out factors, timelines and penalties to promote consistent and transparent enforcement when dental hygiene educational programs (DHEPs) do not meet statutory, regulatory or CODA standards.
Michael Long moved that the full board approve the draft rubric, allowing for future amendments and application during reviews and site visits. The board approved the motion by roll call.
Board staff said the rubric was created after repeated site‑visit findings and a desire to remove subjectivity from penalty decisions. The task force met ten times since June 2025 and produced a draft that lists specific violations, remediation time frames and graduated penalties tied to the severity and recurrence of noncompliance.
The board instructed staff to apply the rubric during DHEP reviews and site visits and to return for any future amendments deemed necessary to ensure fairness and consumer protection.
Implementation: Staff will incorporate the rubric into inspection and citation procedures; the rubric is intended to standardize outcomes such as citations, fines, probation and reporting requirements.
