Existing law requires the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy of the Department of Health and Human Services to appoint, with the consent of the Director of the Department, a State Dental Health Officer and prescribes the qualifications and duties of the State Dental Health Officer. Existing law also requires the State Dental Health Officer to: (1) hold a current license to practice dentistry issued pursuant to chapter 631 of NRS; and (2) be appointed on the basis of his or her education, training and experience and his or her interest in public dental health and related programs. Finally, existing law requires the State Dental Health Officer to devote all of his or her time to the business of his or her office and prohibits him or her from pursuing any other business or vocation or holding any other office of profit. (NRS 422.239) Section 1 of this bill transfers the duty to appoint the State Dental Health Officer from the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy to the Director of the Department. Section 1 also provides that the State Dental Health Officer must have satisfied the educational requirements for and may, but is not required to, satisfy any other requirements for the issuance of an unrestricted license to practice dentistry pursuant to chapter 631 of NRS. Finally, section 1 eliminates the requirement that the State Dental Health Officer devote all of his or her time to the business of his or her office and the prohibition on the pursuit of any other business or vocation or holding any other office of profit. Existing law requires the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services to appoint, with the consent of the Director of the Department, a State Public Health Dental Hygienist, who must: (1) hold a current license to practice dental hygiene issued pursuant to chapter 631 of NRS with a special endorsement to practice public health dental hygiene; and (2) be appointed on the basis of his or her education, training and experience and his or her interest in public health dental hygiene and related programs. Existing law also requires the State Public Health Dental Hygienist to devote all of his or her time to the business of his or her office and prohibits the State Public Health Dental Hygienist from pursuing any other business or vocation or holding any other office of profit. (NRS 439.279) Section 2 of this bill transfers the duty to appoint the State Public Health Dental Hygienist to the Department and provides that the State Public Health Dental Hygienist may, but is not required to, hold a current license to practice dental hygiene issued pursuant to chapter 631 of NRS with a special endorsement to practice public health dental hygiene. Section 2 also eliminates the requirement that the State Public Health Dental Hygienist devote all of his or her time to the business of his or her office and the prohibition on the pursuit of any other business or vocation or holding any other office of profit. Existing law establishes the State Program for Oral Health within the Division of Public and Behavioral Health. (NRS 439.2791) Section 3 of this bill transfers that Program to the Department. Existing law: (1) creates the Advisory Committee on the State Program for Oral Health within the Division of Public and Behavioral Health; and (2) requires the Advisory Committee to annually submit a written report to the Administrator of the Division summarizing the activities of the Advisory Committee and its recommendations. (NRS 439.2792) Section 4 of this bill: (1) transfers the Advisory Committee to the Department; and (2) requires the Advisory Committee to submit its annual report to the Director of the Department. Existing law prescribes certain duties for the Division of Public and Behavioral Health to perform with the advice and recommendations of the Advisory Committee. (NRS 439.2793) Section 5 of this bill transfers those duties to the Department. Existing law authorizes the Division of Public and Behavioral Health to take certain actions and sets forth certain requirements and duties for the administration of money accepted to carry out the State Program for Oral Health. (NRS 439.2794) Section 6 of this bill transfers that authority and those requirements and duties to the Department.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 422.239, 439.279, 439.2791, 439.2792, 439.2793, 439.2794
Reprint 1: 422.239, 439.279, 439.2791, 439.2792, 439.2793, 439.2794
As Enrolled: 422.239, 439.279, 439.2791, 439.2792, 439.2793, 439.2794