Bill Text: CA SB562 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Dentists: mobile or portable dental units.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-10-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 624, Statutes of 2013. [SB562 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SB562-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 562	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Galgiani

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to amend Section 1657 of the Business and Professions Code,
relating to dentists.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 562, as introduced, Galgiani. Dentists: mobile or portable
dental units.
   Existing law, the Dental Practice Act, provides for the licensure
and regulation by the Dental Board of California of those engaged in
the practice of dentistry. Existing law provides that a person
practices dentistry if the person, among other things, manages or
conducts as manager, proprietor, conductor, lessor, or otherwise, in
any place where dental operations are performed. Existing law
authorizes a dentist to operate one mobile dental clinic or unit that
is registered and operated in accordance with regulations adopted by
the board. Existing law also imposes specified registration
requirements on a dentist who maintains additional places of
practice. Other provisions of existing law, the Mobile Health Care
Services Act, require, subject to specified exemptions, licensure by
the State Department of Health Care Services to operate a mobile
service unit.
   This bill would authorize a licensed dentist to operate one mobile
or portable dental unit registered and operated in accordance with
those regulations. The bill would authorize the regulations to
include, but not be limited to, requirements for availability of
followup and emergency care, maintenance, and availability of
provider and patient records, and treatment information to be
provided to patients and other appropriate parties.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 1657 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   1657.  (a) A licensed dentist may operate one mobile  or
portable  dental  clinic or  unit 
registered as a dental office or facility  . The mobile 
or portable  dental  clinic or  unit shall be
registered and operated in accordance with regulations established by
the board, provided these regulations are not designed to prevent or
lessen competition in service areas.  The regulations may
include, but shall not be limited to, requirements for availability
of followup and emergency care, maintenance, and availability of
provider and patient records, and treatment information to be
provided to patients and other appropriate parties.  A mobile
 or portable  dental  clinic or  unit
registered and operated in accordance with the board's regulations
and that has paid the fees established by the board, including a
mobile dental unit registered for the purpose specified in
subdivision (d), shall otherwise be exempted from this article and
Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 1658).
   (b) A mobile service unit, as defined in subdivision (b) of
Section 1765.105 of the Health and Safety Code, and a mobile unit
operated by an entity that is exempt from licensure pursuant to
subdivision (b), (c), or (h) of Section 1206 of the Health and Safety
Code, are exempt from this article and Article 3.5 (commencing with
Section 1658). Notwithstanding this exemption, the owner or operator
of the mobile unit shall notify the board within 60 days of the date
on which dental services are first delivered in the mobile unit, or
the date on which the mobile unit's application pursuant to Section
1765.130 of the Health and Safety Code is approved, whichever is
earlier.
   (c) A licensee practicing in a mobile unit described in
subdivision (b) is not subject to subdivision (a) as to that mobile
unit.
   (d) Notwithstanding Section 1625, a licensed dentist shall be
permitted to operate a mobile dental unit provided by his or her
property and casualty insurer as a temporary substitute site for the
practice registered by him or her pursuant to Section 1650 as long as
both of the following apply:
   (1) The licensed dentist's registered place of practice has been
rendered and remains unusable due to loss or calamity.
   (2) The licensee's insurer registers the unit with the board in
compliance with subdivision (a).