Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205
03/16/2020 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB190 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 190 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 190-DENTIST'S SPECIALTY LICENSES
1:33:03 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 190,
"An Act relating to the practice of dentistry."
He stated that he sponsored SB 190, a truth in advertising bill.
Currently, any dentist can advertise as a specialist but Alaska
statutes do not define a dental specialist and the Board of
Dental Examiners does not have authority to define specialties.
SB 190 would establish that if a dentist advertises a specialty
in a field, he or she must qualify as a specialist. The Board of
Dental Examiners would set the qualifications and issue
specialty licenses.
1:33:58 PM
JASMIN MARTIN, Staff, Senator David Wilson, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said SB 190 would allow the Board
of Dental Examiners to define and license dental specialists. It
would prohibit dentists from advertising as specialists unless
they are licensed by the board. Currently, dentists can
advertise as specialists, such as an orthodontist, periodontist,
and endodontist with no specialty training. The board has no
authority to discipline these dentists because the legislature
has not given the board the authority to define and license
dental specialists.
MS. MARTIN presented the sectional analysis for SB 190:
Section 1: Adds new sections to AS 08.36 (Title 8.
Business and Professions, Chapter 36. Dentistry)
Sec. 08.36.242. License to practice as a specialist
required.
Establishes that a dentist may not advertise
using the term "specialist," the name of a specialty,
or other phrases that suggest they are a specialist
unless they have a specialist licenses as established.
Sec. 08.36.243. Qualification for specialist; scope of
practice.
(a) Establishes that in order to qualify for a
specialist licenses a person must
(1)Hold a dental license issued by the board and
(2) Meet the qualifications of a specialist as
established by the board in regulation.
(b) In creating the qualifications for a specialist
license, the board shall consider the standards of a
nationally recognizes certifying entity approved by
the board.
(c) Establishes that a dental specialist can only
claim to be a specialist in the specialty they hold a
license in.
Sec. 08.36.245. Suspension or revocation of specialist
license.
Establishes that a board may suspend or revoke a
specialist license as set by AS 08.36.315.
MS. MARTIN said the board has asked for an effective date of
March 1, 2021, to align with the licensing cycle.
MS. MARTIN said there is a zero fiscal note from the Division of
Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. The division
anticipates a small fiscal note that will be absorbed in the
division's budget.
CHAIR WILSON said there is another bill with a similar title in
the Senate Finance Committee. He said wanted to get this concept
on the record before offering an amendment and passing it on to
the the Senate Finance Committee.
1:37:25 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL said, and Senator Wilson affirmed, that this is
a by-request bill. She observed that making the new effective
date March 1, 2021 to coincide with the licensing date is very
logical.
CHAIR WILSON invited Dr. Wenzell to testify.
1:38:00 PM
DOMINIC WENZELL, D.D.S., Board of Dental Examiners, Girdwood,
Alaska, said the board discussed SB 190 at its March 3 meeting
and offers its unanimous support. The board is willing to write
any necessary companion regulations.
1:38:39 PM
DAVID LOGAN, D.D.S., Executive Director, Alaska Dental Society,
Anchorage, Alaska, said his organization supports SB 190. The
board is handicapped by dentists who are making questionable
advertising, which is confusing to the public. The Alaska Dental
Society would like to see more clarity and standards for
advertising. Establishing firm guidelines about who can
advertise as a specialist and what qualifications are needed
would remove confusion for the public.
CHAIR WILSON asked if had an example of a bad actor.
MR. LOGAN replied that in some instances dentists have decided
to specialize their practice by seeing children. These dentists
advertise as pediatric dentists without undergoing a pediatric
training program of two to three years. Some dentists claim
specialties that are not recognized, such as sleep apnea, and
the amount of training these dentists have received is weeks,
not years.
SENATOR GIESSEL added that she is aware of some of the dentists
that he is referring to who claim to be pediatric specialists.
She said she has concerns about them and appreciates the bill.
1:41:10 PM
CHAIR WILSON opened public testimony and after first determining
no one wished to testify, closed public testimony SB 190.
SENATOR GIESSEL said this is a logical bill. The overriding
purpose of regulating health care professionals is public
safety. When dentists claim to be specialists but do not have
the training in their specialty, it jeopardize public safety.
She advocated to move the bill to the Senate Finance Committee
today. However, the committee lacked a quorum.
1:42:09 PM
At ease
1:45:39 PM
CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and noted the presence of
Senator Begich. He solicited a motion.
1:45:53 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt Amendment 1:
31-LS1260\M.1
Fisher
3/10/20
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR WILSON
TO: SB 190
Page 1, line 1, following "dentistry":
Insert "; and providing for an effective date"
Page 2, following line 10:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect March 1, 2021."
1:45:56 PM
CHAIR WILSON objected for purposes of discussion.
SENATOR GIESSEL explained that changing the effective date to
March 1, 2021 would coincide with the licensing renewal date for
the Board of Dental Examiners.
1:46:40 PM
CHAIR WILSON removed his objection and finding no further
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
1:46:50 PM
CHAIR WILSON solicited a motion.
1:46:56 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SB 190, work order 31-LS1260\M
as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
There being no objection, CSSB 190(HSS) was reported from the
Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 190 v. M 2.14.20.PDF |
SHSS 3/16/2020 1:30:00 PM |
SB 190 |
| SB 190 Sponsor Statement v. M 2.28.2020.pdf |
SHSS 3/16/2020 1:30:00 PM |
SB 190 |
| SB 190 Sectional Summary v. M 2.28.2020.pdf |
SHSS 3/16/2020 1:30:00 PM |
SB 190 |
| SB190 Letter ADB 3.12.20.pdf |
SHSS 3/16/2020 1:30:00 PM |
SB 190 |
| SB 190 BDE Ltr 10.4.2019.pdf |
SHSS 3/16/2020 1:30:00 PM |
SB 190 |
| SB 190 Fiscal Note DCCED 3.15.20.pdf |
SHSS 3/16/2020 1:30:00 PM |
SB 190 |