HB70 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Artis McCampbellRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama, to create limited special volunteer licenses for nonresident dentists and dental hygienists, to increase fee for annual dental hygiene registration, to add fee for issuance of special volunteer licenses

Summary

HB70 creates a pathway for nonresident dentists and dental hygienists to practice briefly in Alabama under supervision for organized charitable events, and raises the dental hygiene registration fee while adding a $150 issuance fee for special volunteer licenses.

What This Bill Does

The board may issue special volunteer licenses to allow eligible nonresident dentists and dental hygienists to practice in Alabama for up to 15 days (within 30 days of issuance) at a location approved for an organized charitable event, under the direct supervision of an Alabama-licensed dentist. Eligibility requires holding an active, unrestricted license in another state or DC with no pending disciplinary action and submitting a completed application and fee. Practice is limited to the scope of the existing dental laws, with the supervising Alabama dentist responsible for records; volunteers may not be compensated beyond reimbursement of expenses and cannot obtain Alabama controlled substance or sedation permits. The act also sets a $150 issuance fee for special volunteer licenses (for both dentistry and dental hygiene) and increases the dental hygiene annual registration fee; the law takes effect October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Nonresident dentists and dental hygienists who want to participate in organized charitable events in Alabama, who could obtain a special volunteer license to practice briefly under supervision.
• Alabama-licensed dentists who regularly practice in the state, who must supervise volunteers and oversee treatment records during the events and who are subject to the board's disciplinary and record-keeping rules.

Key Provisions

• Creates a new Special Volunteer License (Section 34-9-10.01) to allow dentistry, dental hygiene, or both, for a limited time during an approved charitable event.
• Eligibility: holder must have an active unrestricted license in another state/DC with no pending disciplinary action; must complete an application and pay the prescribed fee.
• Scope and supervision: practice is governed by the existing chapter; at least one Alabama-licensed dentist must supervise and be the custodian of treatment records; every record must identify the supervising dentist.
• Restrictions: volunteers may not solicit or receive compensation beyond reimbursement of actual expenses and may not receive Alabama controlled substance certificates or sedation/ anesthesia permits.
• Duration: special volunteer licenses are valid up to 15 days within 30 days after issuance, expire on day 31, and may be renewed for up to 15 days each; the board can adopt rules to implement.
• Fees: the bill establishes Special Volunteer License issuance fees of $150 for dentistry and $150 for dental hygiene; it also sets the Dental Hygiene Annual Registration Fee (up to $150) and includes a broader schedule of other related fees.
• Effective date: October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Occupational Licensing Boards