Washington state’s 105-day legislative session commenced on Monday, Jan. 9. Occurring in odd-numbered years, the 105-day session is the first half of the biennium, during which legislators must pass the state’s biennial budget. Due to the pandemic, the Legislature has operated in a mostly remote fashion for the past two years. This year, the Legislature returned to an in-person format with some aspects of remote session continuing, including remote public testimony.

After midterm elections, Democrats continue to control both legislative chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, in coordination with Democrat Governor Jay Inslee. Workforce issues are a priority for both the Democrat and Republican caucuses given every sector is experiencing staffing shortages, and the Legislature will consider bills to change licensure requirements, expand apprenticeship programs, fund new and existing programs, along with other ideas.

WSDA is tracking several bills this session concerning dental-specific issues, health care, small business issues, employer/employee matters, workforce, and more.

Week 1 (Jan. 9-15, 2023)

Military Spouse Employment (Substitute House Bill 1009)

SHB 1009 would establish that a licensing authority must issue a license or a temporary license to a military spouse within 30 days of receipt of a completed application for licensure. The bill defines military spouse as “any person married or previously married to a military service member, irrespective of the length of the marriage, during the military service member's service in any branch of the United States armed forces as an active-duty service member, reservist, or national guard member.” SHB 1009 would also require certain state agencies, including the Department of Health and Department of Licensing, to establish a military spouse assistance webpage. The bill encourages licensing authorities to review their licensing application process for military spouses, identify barriers to military spouse employment, and appoint a military spouse to serve on their licensing board or commission. Finally, SHB 1009 allows a military spouse to terminate an employment contract without penalty after his or her service member spouse receives orders for a permanent change of station.

WSDA signed in pro on SHB 1009.

Creating Equitable Access to Return-to-Work Opportunities in Workers' Compensation (House Bill 1137)

HB 1137 expands the Stay at Work Program by allowing employers to offer offsite light duty work with third party nonprofit organizations approved by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) to injured employees. Currently, frontline workers, particularly in small businesses, are less likely to have access to remote light duty work, which can lead to increased workers’ compensation costs for these employers.

Further, HB 1137 would be beneficial to WSDA’s Retro program, which provides a no-cost, no-risk way for WSDA member dentists who own dental practices to earn refunds on their workers’ compensation premiums paid to L&I.

WSDA testified in support of HB 1137 during the bill’s public hearing in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on Jan. 17, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [1:01:16-1:02:25].

Week 2 (Jan. 16-22, 2023)

Faculty in Dental Schools (Senate Bill 5113/House Bill 1327)

A legislative request from the Department of Health, SB 5113/HB 1327 allows any CODA-accredited dental school in Washington state to request temporary licensure for persons who have accepted faculty employment at the school. The bill also allows dental schools to request limited licensure for postdoctoral students or postdoctoral residents. The current statute is specific to the University of Washington, and SB 5113/HB 1327 would ensure that faculty of the recently established Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine (PNWU), along with future CODA-accredited dental schools, are able to obtain a faculty license.

SB 5113 was heard in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on Jan. 19, and Dr. Fotinos Panagakos, Dean of the School of Dental Medicine at PNWU, testified in support. Dean Panagakos’ testimony can be viewed on TVW [1:03:39-1:06:10].

WSDA signed in pro on SB 5113.

Currently Credentialed Dental Auxiliaries (House Bill 1466)

Developed by WSDA, HB 1466 would make it easier and faster for in state and out-of-state dental hygienists, in good standing, to obtain a core hygiene license, while also maintaining a pathway for hygienists wanting to place restorations and/or administer nitrous oxide and local anesthesia. The bill would bring Washington’s hygiene licensure process into alignment with the majority of other states.

Current challenges with Washington’s hygiene licensure process pose barriers to full hygiene licensure:

• Washington is currently the only state that requires applicants to have completed education programs and exams in local anesthesia and restorative procedures, along with an education program in administering nitrous oxide, in order to receive a full hygiene license.
• In order to obtain an initial limited license, an out-of-state hygienist must have 560 hours of practice in the preceding 24 months, a significant barrier to licensure. To continue practicing when the initial limited license expires after 18 months, the applicant must either apply for limited license renewal or a full hygiene license.
• Currently, out-of-state recent graduates, who must apply for the full hygiene license, as well as in-state hygienists looking to renew an initial limited license or obtain a full hygiene license, are facing challenges completing current requirements due to a lack of both program offerings and hygiene educators.

HB 1466 would not remove any procedures from a dental hygienist’s scope of practice.

Questions?

Please contact WSDA at info@wsda.org.