ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
REVISED
board of dental examiners;
fees
Increases various fees for
dentists, dental hygienists and denturists and establishes a waiver from
examination requirements. Contains a
Proposition 108 clause.
Background
The current schedule of fees
for the Board of Dental Examiners (BODEX) was adopted in 1993. Since then, BODEX has experienced
significant growth in complaints received (71%), cases heard (25%), dentists
licensed (130%) and dental hygienists licensed (79%). BODEX anticipates a critical budget shortfall in FY
2003-2004. S.B. 1037 attempts to address
the anticipated shortfall by increasing the fees for licenses, which are renewed
every three years. The bill also
increases the fees for the jurisprudence examination, failure to renew a
license and failure to notify BODEX of a change of address.
Currently, Arizona requires
applicants for licensure to pass a specific regional examination, the Western
Regional Examining Board (WREB). This
bill modifies the examination requirement by recognizing other regional
examinations that are equivalent to the WREB.
Specifically, S.B. 1037 requires applicants for licenses by credential
to have passed the clinical examination of another state or testing agency with
a standard of licensure that is substantially equivalent to the standards in
Arizona.
Currently, there are ten
denturists in Arizona. S.B. 1037
eliminates the $10 penalty if a denturist fails to notify BODEX of an
additional office within ten days.
As a result of the increased
fees under this bill, BODEX estimates an increase in revenue of $820,000 by
July 2004. BODEX is a 90/10 agency,
thus these revenues are deposited into the BODEX fund and the state general
fund respectively.
1. Increases the following fees for dentists:
a.
Jurisprudence
examination fee from a maximum of $200 to $300.
b.
Triennium
licensure fee from a maximum of $450 to $650.
c.
Penalty
for failure to renew a license from a maximum of $25 to $100.
d.
Penalty
for failure to notify BODEX of an additional office within 10 days from $10 to
$50.
e.
Penalty
for failure to notify BODEX with a change in address within 10 days from $10 to
$50.
f.
Penalty
for failure to notify BODEX with a change in address within 30 days from $50 to
$100.
2. Increases the following fees for dental hygienists:
a.
Jurisprudence
examination fee from a maximum of $50 to $100.
b.
Triennium
licensure fee from a maximum of $250 to $325.
c.
Penalty
for failure to renew a license from a maximum of $25 to $100.
d.
Penalty
for failure to notify BODEX with a change in address within 10 days from $10 to
$50.
e.
Penalty
for failure to notify BODEX with a change in address with 30 days from $50 to
$100.
3. Increases the following fees for denturists:
a.
Jurisprudence
examination fee from $150 to $200.
b.
Triennium
certificate fee from a maximum of $225 to $300.
c.
Penalty
for failure to renew a certificate from a maximum of $25 to $100.
d.
Penalty
for failure to notify BODEX with a change in address within 10 days from $10 to
$50.
e.
Penalty
for failure to notify BODEX with a change in address within 30 days from $50 to
$100.
4. Eliminates the penalty for denturists for failing to notify BODEX of an additional office within ten days of $10.
5. Allows BODEX to waive the examination requirements for an applicant for a license to practice dentistry who has passed clinical examinations for another agency if either: (a) the agency’s licensure standards are equivalent to this State’s standards or (b) the applicant has successfully completed the State examination within five years of submitting an application for licensure.
6. Establishes a licensure by credential fee of $2,000 for dentists.
7. Allows BODEX to waive the examination requirements for an applicant for a license to practice dental hygiene who has passed clinical examinations for another agency if either: (a) the agency’s licensure standards are equivalent to this State’s standards or (b) the applicant has successfully completed the State examination within five years of submitting an application for licensure.
8. Establishes a licensure by credential fee of $1,000 for dental hygienists.
9. Makes technical and conforming changes.
10. Becomes effective on signature of the Governor.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Restores the $75 fee for timely renewal of the certificate for denturists.
2. Restores the requirement of denturists to obtain a duplicate certificate for each office.
3. Restores the requirement of BODEX to charge a fee for each duplicate denturist certificate.
4. Restores the requirement of denturists to notify BODEX within ten days of opening an additional place of practice.
Senate Action
HEALTH 1/22/02 DPA 8-0-0-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 23, 2002