AB153: Bill Text

LRB-0577/5

CTS:wlj:jf

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 153

March 5, 2007 - Introduced by Representatives Strachota, Molepske, Bies, Berceau, Kerkman, Cullen, Albers, Ziegelbauer, A. Ott, Zepnick, Hines, Soletski, Mursau, Staskunas, Mason, Seidel, Turner, Sinicki and Shilling, cosponsored by Senators Erpenbach, Darling, Lehman, Cowles, Hansen, Schultz, Plale, Miller, Olsen, Risser and Roessler. Referred to Committee on Health and Healthcare Reform.

AB153,1,3 An Act to amend 447.055 (title); and to create 447.02 (1) (f) and 447.056 of the statutes; relating to: continuing education for dentists and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, dentists licensed by the Dentistry Examining Board (board) must apply to the board to renew their licenses every two years. This bill prohibits the board from renewing a dentist's license unless the dentist has taught, prepared, attended, or otherwise completed 30 credit hours of continuing education related to the practice of dentistry, including not less than 25 credit hours of instruction in clinical dentistry or clinical medicine. Under the bill, credit hours completed before the two-year period immediately preceding renewal may not be applied to satisfy the credit hours required for renewal. The bill authorizes the board to waive the continuing education requirements in exceptional circumstances and requires a dentist to keep a written record of continuing education he or she completes. Under the bill, the board may require a dentist to prove compliance with the continuing education requirement when the dentist applies for license renewal.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB153, s. 1 Section 1. 447.02 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB153,2,3 447.02 (1) (f) Governing compliance with continuing education requirements under s. 447.056.

AB153, s. 2 Section 2. 447.055 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB153,2,5 447.055 (title) Continuing education; dental hygienists.

AB153, s. 3 Section 3. 447.056 of the statutes is created to read:

AB153,2,15 447.056 Continuing education; dentists. (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) to (4), a person is not eligible for renewal of a license to practice dentistry unless the person has taught, prepared, attended, or otherwise completed, during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), 30 credit hours of continuing education related to the practice of dentistry or the practice of medicine, including not less than 25 credit hours of instruction in clinical dentistry or clinical medicine. Continuing education does not satisfy the requirements under this subsection unless the continuing education is one of the following:

AB153,2,17 (a) Sponsored or recognized by a local, state, regional, national, or international dental or medical professional organization.

AB153,2,20 (b) A college-level course that is offered by a postsecondary institution accredited by the American Dental Association commission on dental accreditation or a successor agency, or by another recognized accrediting body.

AB153,2,23 (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an applicant for renewal of a license that expires on the first renewal date after the date on which the examining board initially granted the license.

AB153,3,3 (3) Credit hours completed before the 2-year period immediately preceding renewal of a license to practice dentistry may not be applied to fulfill the credit hours required under sub. (1).

AB153,3,7 (4) The examining board may waive the continuing education requirements under sub. (1) if it finds that exceptional circumstances such as prolonged illness, disability, or other similar circumstances have prevented a person licensed to practice dentistry from meeting the requirement.

AB153,3,13 (5) A person who is licensed to practice dentistry shall keep a written record detailing each continuing education credit completed in compliance with sub. (1) and shall maintain the written record for not less than 6 years after the person completes each credit. The examining board may require applicants for renewal of a license to practice dentistry to submit proof of compliance with the requirements of this section.

AB153,3,14 (End)