GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME
TO THIS MORNING'S BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE HEARING.
WE HAVE ONLY ONE ITEM ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. SB 1453 BY CHAIR ASHBY.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMMITTEE
ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION IS
MEETING UPON ADJOURNMENT OF OUR
HEARING TODAY. I ASSUME THAT'S
WHAT 90% OF YOU ARE HERE FOR, SO
WE WILL BE DOING OUR BEST TO
MOVE QUICKLY SO THAT COMMITTEE
CAN CONVENE. TODAY. WE WILL BE
ALLOWING PRIMARY WITNESSES TO
SPEAK FOR UP TO NO MORE THAN TWO
MINUTES EACH, WITH NO MORE THAN
TWO, WITH NO MORE THAN TWO
PRIMARY WITNESSES PER SIDE. ANY
ADDITIONAL WITNESSES WILL BE
LIMITED TO PROVIDING THEIR NAME,
POSITION ON THE BILL, AND
ORGANIZATION THEY REPRESENT. IF
ANY. FOR THOSE WISHING TO
PROVIDE FURTHER COMMENTS, WE ARE
ACCEPTING WRITTEN TESTIMONY
THROUGH THE POSITION LETTER
PORTAL ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE. AND WITH THAT, WE WILL
BEGIN TODAY'S HEARING. CHAIR
ASHBY, PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU
GUYS. AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE HARD
DAYS WHERE WE'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO
BE IN LIKE SEVEN PLACES AT THE
SAME TIME. SO I THOUGHT WE COULD
MAYBE MOVE THIS ONE QUICKLY,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, WE'RE HERE TO
PRESENT SB 1453. IT'S THE DENTAL
BOARD OF CALIFORNIA'S SUNSET
BILL. BILL MAKES A NUMBER OF
CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE BOARD'S
OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCIES.
WITHOUT THIS BILL, THE BOARD
WOULD EXPIRE ON JANUARY 1ST. MR.
CHAIR, I APPRECIATE THE WORK
THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE
DONE. AS ALWAYS, TO ASSIST THE
SENATE TEAM, HELP US CRAFT THIS
BILL INCLUDES A NUMBER OF
CHANGES REQUESTED BY THE BOARD
AND DENTAL PARTNERS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. I HAVE WITH ME TWO
SUPPORT WITNESSES, TRACY MONTEZ,
WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR
THE DENTAL BOARD, AND DOCTOR
TURLEY, A DENTAL DIRECTOR AT ONE
OF OUR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED
HEALTH CARE CENTERS. AND AS AN
EXPERT, IN CASE YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, WE ALSO HAVE WITH US
GARY COOPER, REPRESENTING THE
ORAL SURGEONS. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES EACH.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND VICE
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. TRACY MONTEZ,
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE DENTAL
BOARD. AND THE BOARD IS IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. AND WE ARE
THRILLED WITH THE PROPOSALS THAT
HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS BILL.
AND THANK SENATOR ASHBY AND HER
TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK TO MAKE
THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU. I'M HERE
FOR ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS YOU
MAY HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS ARIANE
CHIRLA AND I AM THE CHIEF DENTAL
OFFICER FOR LA CLINICA DE LA
RAZA IN OAKLAND, WHICH IS A
FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH
CENTER. I'M THE PAST PRESIDENT
OF THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL
ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS BEING A
PAST MEMBER OF THE DENTAL BOARD
OF CALIFORNIA. I AM HERE IN
SUPPORT OF SB 1453. KDA FIRMLY
BELIEVES IN THE BOARD'S CRITICAL
ROLE IN ENSURING SAFE DENTAL
CARE THROUGH EFFECTIVE LICENSING
OVERSIGHT. WE ARE PARTICULARLY
SUPPORTIVE OF SEVERAL KEY
POSITIONS IN THE BILL THAT ALIGN
WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT AND ACCESS TO CARE.
FIRSTLY KDA IS PLEASED TO SEE
THAT THE SUNSET BILL INCLUDED
PREVIOUS CDA SPONSORED LANGUAGE
AIMED AT CREATING MORE LICENSURE
PATHWAYS FOR REGISTERED DENTAL
ASSISTANTS, INCLUDING A NEW
PRECEPTORSHIP MODEL THAT OFFERS
A FLEXIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO
TRADITIONAL DENTAL ASSISTING
PROGRAMS, MAKING THE PROFESSION
ACCESSIBLE TO A DIVERSE GROUP OF
INDIVIDUALS AND ALLOWING FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO EARN AS THEY
LEARN. KDA ALSO APPRECIATES THE
DENTAL BOARD'S WILLINGNESS TO
ADDRESS THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES AND NECESSARY
CLEANUP FOR SB 501, WHICH WAS
LEGISLATION FROM 2018 FOCUSED ON
PEDIATRIC DENTAL ANESTHESIA.
WHILE SEVERAL PROVISIONS ARE
INCLUDED IN THIS BILL TO HELP
STREAMLINE THE ADMINISTRATION
AND OVERSIGHT OF THE DENTAL
ANESTHESIA PERMIT STRUCTURE, KDA
IS PARTICULARLY SUPPORTIVE. AN
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ENABLE
PEDIATRIC DENTISTS TO USE THEIR
PEDIATRIC RESIDENCIES AS
QUALIFYING EDUCATION TO APPLY
FOR ADULT MINIMAL SEDATION
PERMITS. THIS AMENDMENT CORRECTS
AND ADD UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
FROM SB 501 THAT WOULD ALLOW
PEDIATRIC DENTISTS TO PROVIDE
SEDATION TO ADOLESCENT PATIENTS.
13 AND UP, WHICH IS CRITICAL
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS PATIENTS. KDA
ALSO SUPPORTS EXPANDING ELIGIBLE
CE COURSES. LICENSE RENEWAL TO
INCLUDE COURSE OFFERINGS FOCUSED
ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND
WILLINGNESS OF LICENSEES, AND
THE WELLNESS OF LICENSEES. IN
THIS BILL, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION,
AND BURNOUT ARE CRUCIAL ISSUES
IMPACTING ALL HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS THAT, IF LEFT
UNMANAGED, CAN LEAD TO DOCTORS
LEAVING THE PROFESSION AND
IMPACTING PATIENT CARE. THIS
INITIATIVE WILL HELP INCENTIVIZE
LICENSEES TO ENROLL IN COURSES
FOCUSED ON THESE ISSUES. FURTHER
REDUCING STIGMA, AND EQUIP
DENTAL PROFESSIONALS ON THE
TOOLS NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE. AND IF
YOU COULD WRAP UP, THAT'D BE
GREAT. THIS IS IT. THANK YOU.
LASTLY, KDA CONTINUES TO AGREE
WITH THE DENTAL BOARD AND
LEGISLATURES. CONSISTENT
FINDINGS FOR THE PAST HALF
DECADE IN DETERMINING IT IS THE
MOST IS MOST APPROPRIATE TO
SHIFT THE ACCREDITATION
MECHANISM OF INTERNATIONAL
DENTAL SCHOOLS FROM THE STATE
REGULATORY BOARD TO AN EXISTING
US REGULATED ENTITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
ANY ADDITIONAL WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT WHO WANT TO ADD ON IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL? NOW IS YOUR
TIME, MR. CHAIR. GARY COOPER,
REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF ORAL AND
MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEONS. WE WANT
TO THANK CHAIR ASHBY FOR WORKING
WITH US ON SOME OF OUR CONCERNS,
AND WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT A SB
1453. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GO
AHEAD. MARTHA JOHNSON, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
ORTHODONTISTS AND SUPPORT, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. SO NOW WE'LL HAVE
TWO PRIMARY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION. IF WE COULD JUST
MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SPACE FOR
THE TWO PRIMARY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION. COME ON UP. YOU HAVE
TWO MINUTES EACH.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
JENNIFER TANNEHILL WITH AARON
REED AND ASSOCIATES ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL HYGIENISTS
ASSOCIATION. CDA IS OPPOSED TO
THE JUNE 24TH AMENDMENT TO
SENATE BILL 1453 AND HAS TAKEN
AN OPPOSING, LESS AMENDED
POSITION ON THE BILL AS RECENTLY
AMENDED, SB 1453 WOULD REMOVE
THE REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST
FROM THE DENTAL BOARD TO MAKE
ROOM FOR ANOTHER REGISTERED
DENTAL ASSISTANT. WE SUPPORT THE
REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANTS
HAVING A STRONGER VOICE ON THE
DENTAL BOARD. HOWEVER, THE
CALIFORNIA DENTAL HYGIENIST
ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED TO
REMOVING THE HYGIENIST FROM THE
DENTAL BOARD SO LONG AS THE
DENTAL HYGIENE BOARD IS REQUIRED
TO OBTAIN APPROVAL FROM THE
DENTAL BOARD FOR SCOPE CHANGES
AS REQUIRED IN SECTION 19 05.2,
DENTAL HYGIENISTS SHOULD HAVE A
VOICE ON THE DENTAL BOARD. IF
HYGIENISTS SCOPE DECISIONS ARE
REQUIRED TO HAVE APPROVAL FROM
THE DENTAL BOARD, HOWEVER, CDA
WOULD NOT OPPOSE REMOVING THE
RDA FROM THE DENTAL BOARD. IF 19
05.2 IS STRICKEN FROM THE DENTAL
HYGIENE CODE, STRIKING 19 05.2
ACTUALLY MAKES THE MOST SENSE,
AS DENTAL HYGIENE BOARD IS
ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
REGULATORY OVERSIGHT OF THE
DENTAL HYGIENE PROFESSION. NO
OTHER BOARDS ARE REQUIRED TO
GAIN APPROVAL FROM A SEPARATE
BOARD FOR SCOPE CHANGES. 19 05.2
IS A RELIC OF WHEN HYGIENISTS
WERE REGULATED BY THE DENTAL
BOARD. SIMPLY STRIKING 19 05.2
WOULD CLEAN UP THE CODE TO
REFLECT THE DENTAL HYGIENE
BOARD'S TRUE OVERSIGHT
RESPONSIBILITY. WE LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THE AUTHOR AND
COMMITTEE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE,
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. AND,
MISS HUERTA, YOU HAVE TWO
MINUTES. IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR.
ALTHOUGH I THINK I'M GETTING A
NOTICE. OKAY, I GUESS WE'RE
GOING TO DO ONE MINUTE EACH, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MEANS I'M
GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP YOU TO A
VERY STRICT ONE MINUTE. AS YOU
CAN SEE, THERE ARE A LOT OF
FOLKS HERE FOR THE NEXT HEARING.
SO PLEASE GO AHEAD. AND I THINK
PRESS MY BUTTON. THANK YOU,
DOLORES, THE DOLORES HUERTA
FOUNDATION I WANTED TO BRING
ATTENTION TO, THAT THERE ARE
THAT THIS BILL DOES NOT GO FAR
ENOUGH. THERE WERE TWO SCHOOLS.
MOLDOVA AND LA SALLE, WHICH ARE
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS THAT
GRADUATED 800 DENTISTS HERE FROM
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THOSE DENTISTS NOW WORK IN LOW
INCOME AREAS. AND WHEN WE SEE
THE NUMBER OF DENTISTS IN
CALIFORNIA, 30,000 DENTISTS,
ONLY 8% OF THOSE DENTISTS ARE
LATINO. AND OF COURSE, THE
NUMBER OF BLACKS IS EVEN LESS
WHEN WE CONSIDER THAT 40% OF THE
POPULATION IN CALIFORNIA ARE
PEOPLE OF COLOR, OR ACTUALLY
MORE 40% ARE LATINOS. SO THESE
ARE HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE NOT
BEING ADDRESSED. THE CALIFORNIA
DENTISTS BOARD IS DEPRIVING OUR
COMMUNITIES OF THE NEEDED
DENTISTS THAT THEY NEED. AND
THIS IS, OF COURSE, IMPACTING
THEIR HEALTH. AND THIS HAS TO BE
CORRECTED. SO WHEN YOU HAD A
PROGRAM THAT ACTUALLY WORKED
THAT BROUGHT MORE DENTISTS INTO
OUR COMMUNITY, AND NOW THEY ARE
BEING DEPRIVED OF THAT, THIS
NEEDS TO BE FIXED. SO, I THINK
THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL BOARD
NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND
FIX IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. AND, SENATOR POLANCO,
I BELIEVE YOU WANT TO COME UP
FOR ONE MINUTE IN TESTIMONY.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. MEMBERS. GO AHEAD. YES
THIS BILL WAS ESTABLISHED FOR
THE PURPOSES OF INCREASING A
POOL OF QUALIFIED CALIFORNIA
STUDENTS WHO GET TRAINED ABROAD
IN DENTISTRY. IT IS A MEASURE
THAT HAS PROVEN ITSELF WHEN IT
WAS SUNSETTED OUT. A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO, IT WAS SUNSETTED OUT
WITHOUT ANY DATA. THIS PROGRAM
HAS GRADUATED AND HAVE LICENSED
800 STUDENTS FROM CALIFORNIA.
THEY ARE TRAINED. WE WERE
RECENTLY INFORMED THAT THERE IS
A DENTAL SCHOOL THAT DID NOT GO
THROUGH THE QUOTA PROCESS, THAT
THE DENTAL BOARD DID ALLOW TO
PROCEED, AND ACCEPTING STUDENTS,
WE ASK THAT WE EXPLORE A PATHWAY
THAT CREATES A PERMANENT,
PERMANENT POOL OF QUALIFIED,
DENTISTS THAT CAN COME BACK AT
NO COST TO THE CALIFORNIA
BUDGET. WE HOPE TO WORK WITH IN
THE FUTURE WITH THE AUTHOR OF
THIS BILL, WE KNOW THAT THE
ISSUE OF DENTISTS IN MEDICALLY
UNDERSERVED AREAS IS CRITICAL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU ALL.
THANK YOU, SENATOR. APPRECIATE
IT. WE HAVE A QUORUM. SO WE'RE
GOING TO BREAK REAL QUICK TO
ESTABLISH QUORUM, MADAM. WELL,
WE'RE NOT BREAKING. WE'RE JUST
GOING TO BREAK THE PRESENTATION,
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL BURMAN HERE. FLORA ALANIS
BAINES, JUAN CARRILLO HERE. CHEN
DIXON. GRAYSON IRWIN HERE.
JACKSON LOW HERE. LOWENTHAL
MCKINNEY. HIÆN PELLERIN. SANCHEZ
SORIA. ZUBIATE. DIXON. HERE.
GREAT GREAT. WE HAVE A QUORUM,
ANY, ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO,
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION AS AN ADD
ON WITNESS? THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, TIM MADDEN,
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS. WE
ACTUALLY REMOVED OUR OPPOSITION
WITH THE RECENT AMENDMENTS. SO
JUST WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR,
HER STAFF, AS WELL AS COMMITTEE
STAFF LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JUST PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION YOU'RE WITH AND
POSITION ON THE BILL. AND GOOD
MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
ANA MARIA QUINTANA. I'M
COUNCILWOMAN FOR THE CITY OF
BELL. I FIRMLY OPPOSE THIS BILL
UNLESS IT'S AMENDED TO INCLUDE
THE FOREIGN DENTAL SCHOOL
PROGRAM. WE NEED DENTISTS, MY
COMMUNITIES, AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY
NAME IS JUANITA CHÁVEZ, AND I'M
WITH THE DOLORES HUERTA
FOUNDATION AND AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED JUSTICE FOR MY SISTER.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO OPPOSE THIS
BILL IF IT IS NOT AMENDED TO
INCLUDE THE FOREIGN DENTAL
SCHOOL PROGRAM AS A PILOT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING,
FRANCISCO LEAL, ON BEHALF OF
ULTIMATE HEALTH SERVICES,
OPPOSED AGAINST THE UNLESS
AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE FOREIGN
DENTAL SCHOOL PROGRAM. I ALSO
HAVE PROXY VOTES FROM ARROYO
VISTA FAMILY HEALTH CENTER
CLINIC, CASA DEL CAMPO REAL
CLINIC AS OSCAR ROMERO, DIRECTOR
DEL BARRIO AND SOUTH CENTRAL
FAMILY HEALTH CENTER. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DUANE
GOUGH, UNITED VETERANS OF PLACER
COUNTY, AND WE OPPOSE UNLESS
AMENDED. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
CARLOS. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE
CHICANO LATINO CAUCUS OF THE
CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
TITLE FOR IDENTIFICATION
PURPOSES ONLY. I AM OPPOSED TO
THIS BILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY ADDITIONAL WITNESSES SEEING
NONE, BRING IT BACK TO
COLLEAGUES. QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, MOTIONS AND SECONDS
FROM COLLEAGUES. GOT A MOTION. A
SECOND, GOT A SECOND.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER SORIA, YOU WANT
TO MAKE COMMENTS? PLEASE DO.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND, GOOD
MORNING, EVERYONE. I JUST DID
WANT TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WHAT THE
OPPOSITION PRESENTED IS, IS
EXTREMELY CONCERNING TO ME,
ESPECIALLY COMING FROM THE
CENTRAL VALLEY WHERE WE'RE,
SIGNIFICANTLY MEDICALLY
UNDERSERVED, JUST WONDERING FROM
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE, KIND OF
POSITION, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO
IMPROVE ACCESS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES? AND I ALSO JUST
WANT TO SPEAK FROM A PERSONAL
NOTE, BOTH OF MY PARENTS, FARM
WORKERS, FORMER FARM WORKERS,
NOW RETIRED, HAVING TO TRAVEL TO
TIJUANA, YOU KNOW, PRETTY
REGULARLY TO JUST GET MY MOM'S
DENTAL WORK DONE, BECAUSE OF THE
ACCESS ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ALSO OBVIOUSLY, THE
AFFORDABILITY ISSUE THAT EXISTS
IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO MY
FAMILY STORY IS NOT, YOU KNOW, A
UNIQUE STORY. I THINK IT'S VERY
COMMON. I'VE HEARD IT IN MY
DISTRICT WHEN I, YOU KNOW,
CONNECT WITH FOLKS AT ROUND
TABLES AND MEET WITH, MY LOCAL
RESIDENTS, ONE, THE LACK OF
DENTISTS AND THEN THE
AFFORDABILITY PIECE, ESPECIALLY
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. I DO
BELIEVE THAT THE OPPOSITION
PRESENTS SOME VERY COMPELLING
ARGUMENTS. I'M SEEING IT IN MY
DISTRICT. AND SO I'M JUST
WONDERING WHAT IS THE PLAN TO
MOVE FORWARD? I GET IT THAT IT'S
NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, BUT IT'S AN ISSUE
THAT WE CAN'T IGNORE. THANK YOU.
I'M HAPPY TO RESPOND TO THIS. SO
I BELIEVE, AGAIN, TRACY MONTES,
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE DENTAL
BOARD, I THINK IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT
THESE ARE TWO DISTINCT ISSUES
FOREIGN DENTAL, SCHOOL APPROVAL
AND ACCESS TO CARE. THE BOARD
HAS SPOKEN FOR OVER A DECADE
THAT THEIR BELIEF IS THAT
FOREIGN DENTAL SCHOOLS SHOULD
STILL ACHIEVE THE SAME LEVEL OF
COMPETENCE THEIR GRADUATES, AS
OTHER GRADUATES ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES, AND ON AN
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. WE SHOULD
NOT BE LOWERING THE STANDARDS IN
ORDER TO GRADUATE DENTISTS. AND
SO THE BOARD AGAIN, HAS SPOKEN
MANY TIMES, ON THIS ISSUE AND
BEEN VERY CLEAR IN ORDER TO
PROTECT CONSUMERS OF DENTAL
SERVICES, THEY SHOULD HAVE THE
SAME STANDARDS. AND WE ARE
SEEING SCHOOLS GET CODE APPROVED
BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND
INTERNATIONALLY. SO WE KNOW THE
PROCESS IS WORKING AS FAR AS
ACCESS TO CARE. I TOO, GREW UP
IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, GRADED
PEACHES. THAT WAS MY SUMMER JOB,
SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH HAVING
TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES TO GO TO
THE DOCTOR OR THE DENTIST. THE
BOARD ITSELF HAS RE-INSTITUTED
ITS ACCESS TO CARE COMMITTEE,
AND IT IS WORKING VERY HARD
RIGHT NOW, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED
ON REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANTS,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE SEE THE
GREATEST NEED WE HAVE UPDATED
THE EXAM. WE ARE LOOKING AT
TRANSLATING THE EXAM. WE ARE
ALSO CONDUCTING SURVEYS TO
BETTER ASSESS HOW TO HIRE THOSE.
AS FAR AS THE DENTISTS GO, IN
OUR SUNSET BILL, WE ARE
CLARIFYING THE VARIOUS PATHWAYS
TO BECOME A DENTIST, AND THIS
WAS ALSO PART OF THE PASSED
SUNSET BILL. SO WE'RE WE HAVE
FIVE PATHWAYS TO BECOME A
DENTIST. SO WE ARE TRYING TO
REDUCE ANY ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS
TO LICENSURE AND GET THOSE
DENTISTS OUT THERE. WE'RE ALSO
WORKING TO EVALUATE DEMOGRAPHIC
DATA. LONG BEFORE BOARDS WERE
REQUIRED TO COLLECT THIS DATA.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT AS A
HEALING ARTS BOARD. NOW WE'RE
WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO
SEE HOW WE CAN USE THIS DATA.
BECAUSE OF COURSE, WE CANNOT
FORCE INDIVIDUALS TO GO PRACTICE
IN A CERTAIN AREA, BUT WE
CERTAINLY ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT
WHERE THE NEED IS. SO PLEASE BE
REASSURED THAT OUR ACCESS TO
CARE COMMITTEE AND OUR BOARD
UNDERSTANDS THIS AND IS WORKING
VERY HARD. IT'S IN OUR STRATEGIC
PLAN. IT WILL BE IN OUR NEW
STRATEGIC PLAN, AND WE ADDRESS
IT AT EVERY BOARD MEETING. OUR
ACCESS TO CARE COMMITTEE
REPORTS. SO HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH YOU ON THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU. LET ME LET ME JUST
ADD TO THAT REALLY QUICK. AND
THEN IF YOU HAVE A FURTHER
QUESTION, HAPPY TO TAKE IT. BUT
OBVIOUSLY, FIRST OF ALL, TWO,
TWO THINGS ON THE OPPOSITION, ON
THE DENTAL HYGIENIST ISSUE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
THEM. SHE MAKES AN EXCELLENT
POINT ON THE ONE PROVISION.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AFTER
THIS. AND, HAPPY TO DO SO. THE
HYGIENISTS HAVE THEIR OWN BOARD.
MAKE SENSE THAT THE TWO COULD
COMMUNICATE AND UNLINKING THE
TWO IN ALL WAYS IMAGINABLE IS
PROBABLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
ON THE SECOND ISSUE, THERE ARE
FOREIGN DENTAL SCHOOLS THAT ARE
ACCREDITED, AND SO THERE IS AN
ACCREDITATION PROCESS THAT THESE
SCHOOLS COULD GO THROUGH. BUT
WHAT I DON'T BELIEVE IS
APPROPRIATE HERE IS TO MAKE AN
EXCEPTION IN THE SUNSET BILL
THAT GOES AROUND THE
ACCREDITATION PROCESS. AND SO
THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT IN THIS
BILL, BECAUSE THIS IS A SUNSET
BILL. BUT THERE IS AN
ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR ANY
FOREIGN DENTAL SCHOOL. AND THERE
ARE SOME THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH
THAT PROCESS THAT NOW DO SERVE
CALIFORNIANS. THANK YOU. AND FOR
ME, THE POINT WAS OBVIOUSLY IT
IS AN ISSUE THAT'S EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT THERE'S
MORE CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD.
I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, SET SOME
TIME UP TO TALK TO YOU MORE
ABOUT WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGIC
PLAN. IS THERE A DENTAL SCHOOL
PLAN TO BE IN THE VALLEY? WHERE
IS THAT IN THE TIMELINE? BECAUSE
AGAIN, DENTAL HEALTH CARE IS
CONNECTED VERY CLOSELY TO
PEOPLE'S HEALTH. AND SO, YOU
KNOW, I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S
PART OF YOUR GUYS'S STRATEGIC
PLAN. AND ALSO HOW WE'RE
WORKING, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES WHERE WE DON'T HAVE
MAYBE AS MUCH ACCESS TO HIGH
CARE, HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF
EDUCATION THAT ARE FURTHER AWAY,
ESPECIALLY FROM THE SMALL RURAL
COMMUNITIES. WHAT ARE WE DOING
TO REALLY, STRENGTHEN THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS THAT
WE HAVE AVAILABLE THAT PROVIDE
MORE ACCESS? AND THEN THE LAST
PIECE THAT I ALSO CARE ABOUT,
WHAT ARE THE INCENTIVES THAT YOU
GUYS INCLUDE IN YOUR STRATEGIC
PLAN? I GET I GET IT THAT PEOPLE
ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO MAYBE
MOVE TO THE VALLEY, UNLESS
YOU'RE FROM THE VALLEY, BECAUSE
YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY, I'M VERY INTERESTED
TO SEE. THAT'S WHY I FEEL LIKE
THE PROBABLY THE BEST SOLUTION
IS TO BUILD A DENTAL SCHOOL IN
OUR IN OUR REGION. AND SO,
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN INCLUDE THAT
AS PART OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING
THE QUESTION. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER POINTS. VERY
WELL TAKEN, SOME MEMBER CARILLO.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. BACK IN
MARCH WHEN WE HAD THIS SUNSET
REVIEW HEARING, I BELIEVE
SENATOR ROTH ASKED A SERIES OF
QUESTIONS. AND I ALSO ASK IF
THERE WAS ANY DATA AVAILABLE FOR
DENTISTS THAT WENT THROUGH THESE
PROCESSES AND WHERE ARE THEY
SERVICING, THERE WAS NO
RESPONDENT INFORMATION. BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AT A LATER
POINT THAT INFORMATION WAS
PROVIDED. AND IN FACT, THERE ARE
TEN DENTISTS IN THE DISTRICT
THAT I REPRESENT THAT SERVE THE
HIGH DESERT, SO TO ME, IT SEEMED
LIKE THE PROGRAM IS WORKING IS
SUCCESSFUL NOT ONLY IN MY
DISTRICT, BUT I WAS PROVIDED
WITH INFORMATION OF DENTISTS,
SERVING IN THE ENTIRE STATE, ALL
80TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS, HE ALSO
ASKED THE STATUS OF THE LA SALLE
DE LA SALLE DENTAL SCHOOL
ACCREDITATION STATUS. CAN YOU
GIVE US A STATUS OF WHERE THEY
ARE, I CAN'T AS THE DENTAL BOARD
BECAUSE IT'S A CONFIDENTIALITY
ISSUE BETWEEN CODA AND DE LA
SALLE. BUT DOCTOR CHIRLA MAY
KNOW. YEAH. THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. I, WANT
TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I WAS ON
THE DENTAL BOARD THAT ACCREDITED
DE LA SALLE IN 22 YEARS AGO. AND
SO BASICALLY SO ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT, THEY ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF CODA, THEY'RE TRYING
TO FINISH UP, THEY BASICALLY I'M
GOING TO SAY THAT THEY WERE ILL
ADVISED IN THE PAST IN TERMS OF
THE CODA PROCESS, BECAUSE THE US
SYSTEM AND THE LATIN AMERICAN OR
ANY OTHER COUNTRY HAS A
DIFFERENT ACCREDITATION SYSTEM.
SO THEY HAVE A FULL TEAM DE LA
SALLE, ACCREDITATION OR
BASICALLY THEY'RE ALLOWED TO
FINISH BY 26. THEY'RE NOT
SUNSETTED UNTIL 26 DUE TO PRIOR
DENTAL BOARD APPROVAL. AND THEIR
HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL HAVE
COMPLETED CODA BY 26. SO THAT IS
THEIR GOAL IN TERMS OF DOING
THAT. SO THEY'RE THEY'RE FAR
INTO THIS PROCESS AND I WILL
ACTUALLY BE GOING THERE THE LAST
WEEK OF AUGUST AND BE MEETING
WITH EVERYBODY BECAUSE IT HAS
BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THEY'VE DONE A
VERY GOOD JOB IN FOLLOWING ALL
OF THE CRITERIA THAT'S NEEDED TO
BE A DENTAL SCHOOL HERE. SO THEY
THEY COULD POTENTIALLY THEN BE
ACCREDITED BY 2026, PROVIDED
THEY FOLLOW THE REQUIREMENTS
HOPEFULLY SOONER. BUT IN 2026 IS
THE ACTUAL DEADLINE. AND I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE
COMMENTS. AS AN FQHC DIRECTOR,
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'LL SAY
IS CDA HAS DONE AND THANK YOU TO
THE LEGISLATURE FOR GIVING $10
MILLION TO US, BEING ABLE TO
ROTATE DENTAL STUDENTS OUT OF
THE DENTAL SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THAT
HAS MADE THE BIGGEST IMPACT FOR
ME AS A DENTAL DIRECTOR, TO HAVE
DENTAL STUDENTS ROTATE, COME
INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SEE WHO
WE SERVE AND IDEALLY TO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GRADUATE
FROM HIGH SCHOOL, TO GET INTO
COLLEGE, TO EVEN GET INTO DENTAL
SCHOOL BECAUSE IT'S HARD. BUT
YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS WE CAN BE
ROLE MODELS AND BE IN THE
COMMUNITY, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. SO I REALLY THANK YOU
AND ENCOURAGE MORE ROTATIONS AND
GETTING PEOPLE. I WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE DENTAL SCHOOL IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY, BUT I THINK
THAT, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGING
PEOPLE TO SEE THE COMMUNITIES
AND CHOOSING PEOPLE FROM THE
COMMUNITIES INTO PROFESSIONAL
SCHOOLS IS CRITICAL. JUST ONE
FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT. SO
IF FOR ANY REASON THEY'RE NOT
ABLE TO GET FULLY ACCREDITED BY
2026, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY
WILL HAVE TO START THE PROCESS
AGAIN PAST 2026? SO WHAT
HAPPENS? SO WHAT HAPPENED WITH
THE LAST TIME IS THAT THEY
STARTED THE PROCESS. SO WHEN YOU
START CODA YOU HAVE THESE THEY
BASICALLY FIND CRITERIA THAT OF
THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO FIX.
RIGHT. SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF
THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO
REMEDIATE. THEY DIDN'T CHOOSE TO
DO IT AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THEY
HAD A NEW DIRECTOR OF THE
UNIVERSITY WHO DIDN'T WANT TO DO
IT. THAT'S REALLY WHAT ENDED UP
HAPPENING. BUT THE DENTAL SCHOOL
KEPT GOING. THE DIRECTOR THAT'S
THERE AND THE PRESIDENT IS VERY
MUCH INTERESTED IN NOT ONLY
HAVING AN INTERNATIONAL DENTAL
PROGRAM, BUT ALSO A NURSING
PROGRAM, WHICH COULD BENEFIT
CALIFORNIA. SINCE WE HAVE A
NURSING SHORTAGE, AND SO THEY'RE
VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON IT. SO IF
THEY DON'T PASS IN 26, THEY'RE
GOING TO WORK ON WHATEVER THE
DEFICIENCIES ARE AND THEIR
INTENTION IS TO CONTINUE UNTIL
THEY PASS CODA, THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO GIVE IT UP. AND THAT'S
WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. MEMBER
LOWE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
WANT TO ALSO ECHO THE COMMENTS
ABOUT, WITH RESPECT TO THE
SUNSET OF THIS DENTAL BOARD, AS
THIS COMMITTEE IS WELL AWARE
THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
PUBLIC HEARINGS, WITH RESPECT TO
THE SENATE CHAIR OF BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONS, AS WELL AS THE
ASSEMBLY CHAIR AND CONTINUALLY
OUTLINING SOME OF THESE
OUTSTANDING ISSUES AND
ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORK OF BOTH
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY STAFF ON
IRONING OUT ANY OUTSTANDING
ISSUES, ACKNOWLEDGING ALSO THE
PUBLIC DISCOURSE, AND ADDRESSING
THE URGENT NEED OF INCREASING
ACCESS TO CARE IS A PRIORITY OF
THIS LEGISLATURE AND AT THE SAME
TIME MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY
ALSO OF OUR PRACTICES AND ALSO
DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES
AND OUR DIRECTION TO HELP EMBARK
ON THAT DIRECTION. AND SO TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE KEY POINTS
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ECHO SUPPORT
AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF BOTH
COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND THE HARD
WORK BEFORE US, AND LOOK FORWARD
TO SUPPORTING THIS MEASURE.
THANK YOU, ASSEMBLYMAN LAW. ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM COLLEAGUES SEEING NONE.
SENATOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? I THINK ASSEMBLY MEMBER
LOWE DID A BETTER CLOSE THAN I
COULD EVER DO. I ASKED FOR AN
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU
TO SENATOR ASHBY FOR YOUR WORK
ON THIS AND ALL OF THE OTHER
SUNSET BILLS AUTHORED BY YOUR
COMMITTEE THIS YEAR. AND ALSO,
OF COURSE, YOUR FANTASTIC
COMMITTEE STAFF. AS WE'VE HEARD,
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
DISCUSSIONS ON THE VARIOUS
ISSUES RELATING TO THE DENTAL
BOARD AND DENTAL PROFESSIONS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING
WITH WITH YOU AND YOUR
COMMITTEE. THE SENATE COMMITTEE,
ON THESE OUTSTANDING ITEMS.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS
AND ISSUES THAT COLLEAGUES
BROUGHT UP, I DO WANT TO JUST
TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'VE PASSED
LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT THE
MEXICO PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH
ENABLES FOREIGN TRAINED DENTISTS
TO PRACTICE IN AREAS OF NEED IN
CALIFORNIA. WE ALSO PASSED A
BILL BY OUR HEALTH CHAIR,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER BONTA, TO GATHER
DATA NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE
SUCCESS OF INITIATIVES TO
INCREASE THE HEALTH CARE
WORKFORCE IN UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES, LIKE DENTAL SCHOOL
LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS. AND WE
SHOULD ALSO RECOGNIZE THE YEARS
OF BUDGET ADVOCACY THAT HAS
ACHIEVED HISTORIC EXPANSIONS OF
THE STATE'S MEDI-CAL DENTAL
PROGRAM, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO
INCREASING ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE
AMONG LOW INCOME POPULATIONS IN
CALIFORNIA. AND IT WAS, IT WAS
MENTIONED SOME DATA THAT'S BEEN
PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE,
FROM, FROM ADVOCATES. AND MY
COMMITTEE STAFF HAS LOOKED INTO
THAT DATA. THERE ARE A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF
THAT DATA. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT IF WE DO HAVE DATA THAT
IT'S ACCURATE DATA, AND LASTLY,
I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THAT DE
LA SALLE, DE LA SALLE, IS NOT
HAS NOT TAKEN A POSITION ON THIS
BILL. THEY HAVE NOT REACHED OUT
TO THE COMMITTEE IN OPPOSITION
OR OR TO EXPRESS ANY CONCERNS,
SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO
SUPPORT THE BILL TODAY, I SHOULD
SAY. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE COMMENTS WE'VE HEARD,
OBVIOUSLY, FROM THE ICONIC
DOLORES HUERTA, AND I BELIEVE I
SPEAK FOR BOTH SENATOR ASHBY AND
MYSELF WHEN I SAY OUR COMMITTEES
SHARE THE GOALS THAT THAT YOU
ARE ADVOCATING IN TERMS OF
INCREASING ACCESS AND WILL
CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY
FOR THE LEGISLATURE, WITH THAT,
I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE BILL
TODAY, WITH THE ONE AMENDMENT
OUTLINED IN THE ANALYSIS. AND I
GUESS I SHOULD CONFIRM THAT
YOU'VE ACCEPTED THE COURSE. YES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
ACCEPTING THE AMENDMENTS. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE
ON SB 1453. ASHBY. THE MOTION IS
DUE PASS, AS AMENDED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
BERMAN. BERMAN. I FLORA. FLORA I
ALANIS. ALANIS I BAINES. BAINES
I, JUAN. CARRILLO JUAN.
CARRILLO. NOT VOTING CHEN DIXON.
DIXON I GRAYSON. GRAYSON I
IRWIN. IRWIN I JACKSON. LOW.
LOWE. I. LOWENTHAL LOWENTHAL I
MCKINNEY. MCKINNEY I IRWIN HIÆN
I PELLERIN. PELLERIN I SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ ASESORÍA. SORIA I ZUBER.
I WANT TO THANK ALMOST EVERYONE
FOR BEING HERE, WE WILL HOLD THE
ROLL OPEN FOR THREE MINUTES FOR
SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF B¢O TO
COME AND ADD ON TO THE BILL,
THREE MINUTES IF YOU ARE
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS OF STAFF. THANK
YOU. COLLEAGUES. CHAIR. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD LUCK WITH
THE REST OF YOUR WORK THIS
MORNING. SB 1453 ASHBY JACKSON.
JACKSON. I.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE
ROLL FOR, PRESENT COLLEAGUES ON
SB 1453. ASHBY ZIPPER. ZIPPER. I
Þ AND THAT THE BILL IS OUT.
YEAH, WITH 16 VOTES.
OKAY. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.