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Committee opposes SB1311 as written, urges hands-on infection‑control training be required
Summary
The Legislation & Regulatory Committee recommended an "oppose unless amended" position on SB1311 (Wahhab), citing patient‑safety concerns over an exam‑only pathway for infection‑control certification and asking that any online training be paired with dentist‑certified hands‑on instruction.
The Dental Hygiene Board of California’s Legislation & Regulatory Committee voted March 24 to recommend the board oppose SB1311 (Wahhab) unless the bill is amended to require a hands‑on infection‑control training component certified by a licensed supervising dentist or other licensed staff.
The committee’s discussion centered on provisions that would allow unlicensed dental assistants to meet infection‑control requirements by taking a national infection‑control examination rather than completing an eight‑hour infection‑control course with hands‑on instruction. Members and staff said the bill, as drafted, contains no practical education requirement and could permit people without in‑office, supervised training to sterilize instruments and handle clinical infection‑control duties.
“There's a severe concern…to patient safety,” a committee member said during the discussion, citing the lack of any hands‑on component in the bill. Board staff flagged enforcement challenges with fully online training, especially in rural areas where in‑person options may be scarce.
During public comment, Susan McLaren of the California Dental Hygienists' Association said the association supports accessibility of online courses but urged an amendment that would require the dental office to assign a licensed person to demonstrate hands‑on procedures and require the supervising dentist to retain proof of that training. The committee incorporated that clarification into an amended recommendation to the full board and then approved the amended motion by roll call.
The committee’s action is a recommendation to the full Dental Hygiene Board of California; it does not change law. Staff said any suggested amendment would be included in correspondence to the bill’s author and committee consultants. The committee also noted the bill has been treated as an "urgency" measure in the Legislature, which would require a two‑thirds vote to pass and, if enacted, would take effect immediately.
