An act to amend Section 1632 of, and to add Sections 1632.55 and 1632.7 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to dentistry, and making an appropriation therefor.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.
Section 1632 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
1632.
(a) The board shall require each applicant to successfully complete the Part I and Part II written examinations of the National Board Dental Examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
(b) The board shall require each applicant to successfully complete an examination in California law and ethics developed and administered by the board. The board shall provide a separate application for this examination. The board shall ensure that the law and ethics examination reflects current law and regulations, and ensure that the examinations are randomized. Applicants shall submit this application and required fee to the board in order to take this examination. In addition to the aforementioned application, the only other requirement for taking this examination shall be certification from the dean of the qualifying dental school attended by the applicant that the applicant has graduated, or will graduate, or is expected to graduate. Applicants who submit completed applications and certification from the dean at least 15 days prior to a scheduled examination shall be scheduled to take the examination. Successful results of the examination shall, as established by board regulation, remain valid for two years from the date that the applicant is notified of having passed the examination.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 1632.5, the board shall require each applicant to have taken and received a passing score on one of the following:
(1) A portfolio examination of the applicant’s competence to enter the practice of dentistry. This examination shall be conducted while the applicant is enrolled in a dental school program at a board-approved school located in California. This examination shall utilize uniform standards of clinical experiences and competencies, as approved by the board pursuant to Section 1632.1. The applicant shall pass a final assessment of the submitted portfolio at the end of his or her dental school program. Before any portfolio assessment may be submitted to the board, the applicant shall remit the required fee to the board to be deposited into the State Dentistry Fund, and a letter of good standing signed by the dean of his or her dental school or his or her delegate stating that the applicant has graduated or will graduate with no pending ethical issues.
(A) The portfolio examination shall not be conducted until the board adopts regulations to carry out this paragraph. The board shall post notice on its Internet Web site when these regulations have been adopted.
(B) The board shall also provide written notice to the Legislature and the Legislative Counsel when these regulations have been adopted.
(2) Either one of the following examinations:
(A) A clinical and written examination administered by the Western Regional Examining Board.
(B) The clinical and written examination developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 1628, the board is authorized to do either of the following:
(1) Approve an application for examination from, and to examine an applicant who is enrolled in, but has not yet graduated from, a reputable dental school approved by the board.
(2) Accept the results of an examination described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) submitted by an applicant who was enrolled in, but had not graduated from, a reputable dental school approved by the board at the time the examination was administered.
In either case, the board shall require the dean of that school or his or her delegate to furnish satisfactory proof that the applicant will graduate within one year of the date the examination was administered or as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).
(e) The board may determine the testing format, as related to patients, for the examination provided pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
SEC. 1.5.
Section 1632 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
1632.
(a) The board shall require each applicant to successfully complete the written examination of the National Board Dental Examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
(b) The board shall require each applicant to successfully complete an examination in California law and ethics developed and administered by the board. The board shall provide a separate application for this examination. The board shall ensure that the law and ethics examination reflects current law and regulations, and ensure that the examinations are randomized. Applicants shall submit this application and required fee to the board in order to take this examination. In addition to the aforementioned application, the only other requirement for taking this examination shall be certification from the dean of the qualifying dental school attended by the applicant that the applicant has graduated, or will graduate, or is expected to graduate. Applicants who submit completed applications and certification from the dean at least 15 days prior to a scheduled examination shall be scheduled to take the examination. Successful results of the examination shall, as established by board regulation, remain valid for two years from the date that the applicant is notified of having passed the examination.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 1632.5, the board shall require each applicant to have taken and received a passing score on one of the following:
(1) A portfolio examination of the applicant’s competence to enter the practice of dentistry. This examination shall be conducted while the applicant is enrolled in a dental school program at a board-approved school located in California. This examination shall utilize uniform standards of clinical experiences and competencies, as approved by the board pursuant to Section 1632.1. The applicant shall pass a final assessment of the submitted portfolio at the end of his or her dental school program. Before any portfolio assessment may be submitted to the board, the applicant shall remit the required fee to the board to be deposited into the State Dentistry Fund, and a letter of good standing signed by the dean of his or her dental school or his or her delegate stating that the applicant has graduated or will graduate with no pending ethical issues.
(A) The portfolio examination shall not be conducted until the board adopts regulations to carry out this paragraph. The board shall post notice on its Internet Web site when these regulations have been adopted.
(B) The board shall also provide written notice to the Legislature and the Legislative Counsel when these regulations have been adopted.
(2) Either one of the following examinations:
(A) A clinical and written examination administered by the Western Regional Examining Board.
(B) The clinical and written examination developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 1628, the board is authorized to do either of the following:
(1) Approve an application for examination from, and to examine an applicant who is enrolled in, but has not yet graduated from, a reputable dental school approved by the board.
(2) Accept the results of an examination described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) submitted by an applicant who was enrolled in, but had not graduated from, a reputable dental school approved by the board at the time the examination was administered.
In either case, the board shall require the dean of that school or his or her delegate to furnish satisfactory proof that the applicant will graduate within one year of the date the examination was administered or as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).
(e) The board may determine the testing format, as related to patients, for the examination provided pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
SEC. 2.
Section 1632.55 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
1632.55.
(a) Prior to implementation of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 1632, the department’s Office of Professional Examination Services shall review the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. examination to ensure compliance with the requirements of Section 139 and to certify that the examination process meets those standards, and deliver this review to the Dental Board of California. If the department determines that the examination process fails to meet those standards, does not deliver the review to the Dental Board of California, or if the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. fails to pay the costs and expenses the board incurs, as described in subdivision (d), subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 1632 shall not be implemented.
(b) The American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. examination process shall be regularly reviewed by the department pursuant to Section 139.
(c) The American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. examination shall meet the mandates of subdivision (a) of Section 12944 of the Government Code.
(d) The American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses the board incurs for the purposes of implementing this section.
(e) The American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. examination may only be accepted for licensure by a candidate after it is determined that the examination has met the requirements of this section. Examinations taken prior to that date may not be used for licensure.
SEC. 3.
Section 1632.7 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
1632.7.
The Department of Finance may accept funds pursuant to Sections 11005.1 and 16302 of the Government Code for the purposes of reviewing and analyzing the examination developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., as described in Section 1632.55.
SEC. 4.
Section 1.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 1632 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 1478. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2017, (2) each bill amends Section 1632 of the Business and Professions Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 1478, in which case Section 1 of this bill shall not become operative.

Summary: The Dental Practice Act provides for the licensure and regulation of dentists and associated professions by the Dental Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs. The act requires each applicant for a license to practice dentistry to successfully complete specified examinations, including receiving a passing score on either a portfolio examination, as specified, or a clinical and written examination administered by the Western Regional Examining Board, which determines the passing score for that examination.
This bill would additionally allow an applicant to satisfy that examination requirement by receiving a passing score on the clinical and written examination developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., subject to prior review and approval of the examination by the Office of Professional Examination Services, as provided, delivery of this review to the Dental Board of California, and payment of specified expenses incurred by the board.
Existing law authorizes the Director of Finance to accept on behalf of the state any gift of real or personal property whenever he or she deems the gift and the terms and conditions thereof to be in the best interest of the state. Existing law establishes the Special Deposit Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, which consists of money that is paid into it in trust pursuant to law when no other fund has been created to receive that money.
This bill would authorize the Department of Finance to accept funds for the purposes of reviewing and analyzing the dental examination developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., described above. Because these funds would be deposited in the Special Deposit Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 1632 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by SB 1478 that would become operative if this bill and SB 1478 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.