SB203 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 25, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Paul Bussman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Dental Examiners, Board of, licensure of dentists, authorized to charge and collect impaired annual monitoring fee, president to designate any board member to issue subpoenas, depositions relating to board matters further provided for, Secs. 34-9-1, 34-9-4, 34-9-6, 34-9-7, 34-9-7.2, 34-9-8, 34-9-9, 34-9-10, 34-9-12, 34-9-13, 34-9-14, 34-9-15, 34-9-16, 34-9-18, 34-9-22, 34-9-26, 34-9-27, 34-9-28, 34-9-40, 34-9-46, 34-9-47, 34-38-2 am'd.
Summary: SB203 updates Alabama's dental licensing framework by creating expanded duty dental assistant licensing, strengthening impaired professionals oversight, expanding cross-state practice options, and increasing board authority and governance procedures.
What This Bill Does
The bill defines expanded duty dental assistants and authorizes the Board of Dental Examiners to license them and collect related fees. It creates the Alabama Impaired Professionals Committee with an annual monitoring fee of $2,000 and sets how funds are used, supporting intervention and rehabilitation while preserving board disciplinary authority. It introduces licensing pathways such as licensure by credentials and special cross-state licenses (valid up to three years) with reciprocity considerations, and it updates duties for teaching permits and 501(c)(3) clinics. It also strengthens board operations with runoff election rules, subpoena and deposition powers, and revised annual registration and fee requirements for licensees.

Who It Affects
Expanded duty dental assistants will be newly licensed and subject to annual fees and regulatory requirements.
Dentists, dental hygienists, and dental faculty (including teaching permits) will face updated licensure pathways, annual registrations, and governance changes (e.g., elections, subpoena authority).

Key Provisions
Authorizes the Board of Dental Examiners to license expanded duty dental assistants and to charge related licensing fees.
Creates the Alabama Impaired Professionals Committee with an annual monitoring fee of $2,000 and authority to manage funds for operational costs (not for treatment).
Establishes expanded cross-state practice options, including special purpose licenses to practice dentistry across state lines and licensure by credentials, with detailed eligibility criteria and renewal rules (up to three years for special licenses).
Introduces cross-state practice requirements for reporting disciplinary actions and maintaining patient records across jurisdictions.
Requires 501(c)(3) dental clinics to register with the board, detailing clinic sites and licensed personnel and providing IRS 501(c)(3) certification.
Provides for dental faculty teaching permits and special teaching permits, including dean certification, annual fees, and clinical practice within approved facilities.
Sets annual license/registration requirements and a wide schedule of associated fees for dentists, hygienists, and expanded duty dental assistants, with penalties for late or missing registrations.
Gives the board authority to run runoff elections for board seats, specify ballot procedures, and designate a dental hygienist to serve on the board, with five-year terms.
Gives the board president the authority to designate board members to issue subpoenas; allows depositions to be taken and used directly by the board; and protects board members handling investigations within limited immunity for good-faith actions.
Defines grounds for discipline (including fraud, gross negligence, violations of rules, and irregular billing) and outlines potential penalties (license suspension/revocation, fines, and probation).
Allows temporary suspensions for failure to comply with board requests or ongoing disciplinary actions, with procedures and appeals under the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.
Promotes early identification and treatment of impaired practitioners via the Alabama Impaired Professionals Committee, with board collaboration and funding to support committee operations.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Dental Examiners of Alabama, Board of