Pennsylvania SB 81: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 36
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 81
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY FARRY, PENNYCUICK, LANGERHOLC, BROWN AND SCHWANK,
JANUARY 22, 2025
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
JANUARY 22, 2025
AN ACT
Authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Dentist
and Dental Hygienist Compact; and providing for the form of
the compact.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Dentist and
Dental Hygienist Compact Act.
Section 2. Authority to execute compact.
The Governor, on behalf of the Commonwealth, is hereby
authorized to execute a compact in substantially the following
form with any one or more of the states of the United States,
and the General Assembly hereby signifies in advance its
approval and ratification of such compact:
DENTIST AND DENTAL HYGIENIST COMPACT
SECTION 1. TITLE AND PURPOSE
This statute shall be known and cited as the Dentist and
Dental Hygienist Compact. The purposes of this Compact are to
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facilitate the interstate practice of dentistry and dental
hygiene and improve public access to dentistry and dental
hygiene services by providing Dentists and Dental Hygienists
licensed in a Participating State the ability to practice in
Participating States in which they are not licensed. The Compact
does this by establishing a pathway for a Dentists and Dental
Hygienists licensed in a Participating State to obtain a Compact
Privilege that authorizes them to practice in another
Participating State in which they are not licensed. The Compact
enables Participating States to protect the public health and
safety with respect to the practice of such Dentists and Dental
Hygienists, through the State's authority to regulate the
practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in the State. The
Compact:
A. Enables Dentists and Dental Hygienists who qualify for a
Compact Privilege to practice in other Participating States
without satisfying burdensome and duplicative requirements
associated with securing a License to practice in those States;
B. Promotes mobility and addresses workforce shortages
through each Participating State's acceptance of a Compact
Privilege to practice in that State;
C. Increases public access to qualified, licensed Dentists
and Dental Hygienists by creating a responsible, streamlined
pathway for Licensees to practice in Participating States.
D. Enhances the ability of Participating States to protect
the public's health and safety;
E. Does not interfere with licensure requirements established
by a Participating State;
F. Facilitates the sharing of licensure and disciplinary
information among Participating States;
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G. Requires Dentists and Dental Hygienists who practice in a
Participating State pursuant to a Compact Privilege to practice
within the Scope of Practice authorized in that State;
H. Extends the authority of a Participating State to regulate
the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene within its borders
to Dentists and Dental Hygienists who practice in the State
through a Compact Privilege;
I. Promotes the cooperation of Participating State in
regulating the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene within
those States;
J. Facilitates the relocation of military members and their
spouses who are licensed to practice dentistry or dental
hygiene;
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Compact, unless the context requires
otherwise, the following definitions shall apply:
A. "Active Military Member" means any person with full-time
duty status in the armed forces of the United States, including
members of the National Guard and Reserve.
B. "Adverse Action" means disciplinary action or encumbrance
imposed on a License or Compact Privilege by a State Licensing
Authority.
C. "Alternative Program" means a non-disciplinary monitoring
or practice remediation process applicable to a Dentist or
Dental Hygienist approved by a State Licensing Authority of a
Participating State in which the Dentist or Dental Hygienist is
licensed. This includes, but is not limited to, programs to
which Licensees with substance abuse or addiction issues are
referred in lieu of Adverse Action.
D. "Clinical Assessment" means examination or process,
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required for licensure as a Dentist or Dental Hygienist as
applicable, that provides evidence of clinical competence in
dentistry or dental hygiene.
E. "Commissioner" means the individual appointed by a
Participating State to serve as the member of the Commission for
that Participating State.
F. "Compact" means this Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact.
G. "Compact Privilege" means the authorization granted by a
Remote State to allow a Licensee from a Par