The proposed bill, General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 841, seeks to amend chapter 379a of the general statutes to enable foreign-trained dentists to qualify for licensure as dental hygienists in the state. The bill stipulates that these dentists must have practiced lawfully for a minimum of five years in their respective foreign countries or provinces. Additionally, they are required to present a certificate of licensure or registration, along with proof of their duration of dental practice, from the relevant dental board or similar entity in their country. They must also meet other competency requirements as determined by the Commissioner of Public Health.

This legislation aims to broaden the pool of qualified dental hygienists in the state by recognizing the qualifications of foreign dentists, thereby addressing potential workforce shortages in the dental hygiene field. The bill does not include any deletions from current law but introduces new provisions to facilitate the licensure process for these foreign-trained professionals.