Signed by Governor Kevin Stitt

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes Oklahoma's participation in the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, which facilitates interstate practice.

Highlights:

• Requires the Governor to enter into the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact on behalf of the state of Oklahoma (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Commission (referred to as the “Commission”) as a national administrative body composed of a Commissioner from each participating state (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that the Compact requires participating states to (Sec. 2):

• Enact a Compact in line with the Commission Rules’ Model Compact;

• Fully participated in the Commission’s Data System;

• Have a mechanism for reviewing complaints about their licensees and license applicants;

• Notify the Commission of any adverse behavior from licensees and license applicants;

• Implement criminal background checks;

• Comply with all Commission rules;

•  Ensure that licensed applicants graduated from programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or the US Department of Education;

• Require applicants to complete a Clinical Assessment;

• Maintain Continuing Professional Development requirements; and

• Pay a participation fee set by the Commission.

• Requires applicants to follow all Commission rules, have graduated from an accredited institution, and pay all fees (Sec. 2).

• Exempts active military members from paying Commission fees (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that participating states shall possess authority to impose adverse action upon and investigate alleged statute violations by licensees (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes participating states to conduct joint investigations of licensees (Sec. 2).

• Requires each participating state’s State Licensing Authority to select a Commissioner to serve on the Commission, which will meet at least once a year (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the Commission has the power to (Sec. 2):

• Establish a code of conduct, conflict of interest policies, and the Commission’s fiscal year;

• Adopt rules and bylaws;

• Maintain financial records;

• Take action that is consistent with the rules and bylaws;

• Initiate legal proceedings;

• Hire employees and elect officers;

• Maintain and certify records and information;

• Borrow, accept, or contract for services;

• Charge fees to licensees for the grant of Compact Privilege;

• Lease, purchase, retain, hold, sell, convey, or mortgage property;

• Establish a budget, make expenditures, and borrow money; and

• Appoint committees.

• Requires Commission meetings to be open to the public, with the information posted on their website at least thirty days before the meeting (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Commission to levy and collect an annual assessment from each participating state and impose fees on Licensees to cover the costs of its operations and activities (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the Executive Board shall be composed of the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and three other voting members (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Executive Board to (Sec. 2): 

• Oversee day-to-day activities; 

• Recommend rule or bylaw changes; 

• Ensure Compact administration services are appropriately provided; 

• Prepare the budget; 

• Establish additional committees;

• Exercise Commission powers between meetings; and

• Hold an emergency meeting when public health and safety or Commission funding are at risk.

• Requires the Executive Board to meet annually (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Commission to remove any member of the Executive Board (Sec. 2).

• Requires Participating states to submit a uniform data set to the Commission (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Commission to write rules that shall have the force of law (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that if a rule conflicts with the law of a participating state, it shall be invalid in that particular state (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the expulsion of a participating state if they default on their responsibilities and all other means of securing compliance has been exhausted (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the Compact will come into effect once the Compact statute is enacted by the seventh participating state (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes participating states to withdraw from the Compact via the enactment of a statute (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the contents of this Act are severable (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that this Act shall take effect November 1, 2026 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes Oklahoma's participation in the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, which facilitates interstate practice.

Highlights:

• Requires the Governor to enter into the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact on behalf of the state of Oklahoma (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Commission (referred to as the “Commission”) as a national administrative body composed of a Commissioner from each participating state (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that the Compact requires participating states to (Sec. 2):

• Enact a Compact in line with the Commission Rules’ Model Compact;

• Fully participated in the Commission’s Data System;

• Have a mechanism for reviewing complaints about their licensees and license applicants;

• Notify the Commission of any adverse behavior from licensees and license applicants;

• Implement criminal background checks;

• Comply with all Commission rules;

•  Ensure that licensed applicants graduated from programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or the US Department of Education;

• Require applicants to complete a Clinical Assessment;

• Maintain Continuing Professional Development requirements; and

• Pay a participation fee set by the Commission.

• Requires applicants to follow all Commission rules, have graduated from an accredited institution, and pay all fees (Sec. 2).

• Exempts active military members from paying Commission fees (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that participating states shall possess authority to impose adverse action upon and investigate alleged statute violations by licensees (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes participating states to conduct joint investigations of licensees (Sec. 2).

• Requires each participating state’s State Licensing Authority to select a Commissioner to serve on the Commission, which will meet at least once a year (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the Commission has the power to (Sec. 2):

• Establish a code of conduct, conflict of interest policies, and the Commission’s fiscal year;

• Adopt rules and bylaws;

• Maintain financial records;

• Take action that is consistent with the rules and bylaws;

• Initiate legal proceedings;

• Hire employees and elect officers;

• Maintain and certify records and information;

• Borrow, accept, or contract for services;

• Charge fees to licensees for the grant of Compact Privilege;

• Lease, purchase, retain, hold, sell, convey, or mortgage property;

• Establish a budget, make expenditures, and borrow money; and

• Appoint committees.

• Requires Commission meetings to be open to the public, with the information posted on their website at least thirty days before the meeting (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Commission to levy and collect an annual assessment from each participating state and impose fees on Licensees to cover the costs of its operations and activities (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the Executive Board shall be composed of the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and three other voting members (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Executive Board to (Sec. 2): 

• Oversee day-to-day activities; 

• Recommend rule or bylaw changes; 

• Ensure Compact administration services are appropriately provided; 

• Prepare the budget; 

• Establish additional committees;

• Exercise Commission powers between meetings; and

• Hold an emergency meeting when public health and safety or Commission funding are at risk.

• Requires the Executive Board to meet annually (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Commission to remove any member of the Executive Board (Sec. 2).

• Requires Participating states to submit a uniform data set to the Commission (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Commission to write rules that shall have the force of law (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that if a rule conflicts with the law of a participating state, it shall be invalid in that particular state (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the expulsion of a participating state if they default on their responsibilities and all other means of securing compliance has been exhausted (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the Compact will come into effect once the Compact statute is enacted by the seventh participating state (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes participating states to withdraw from the Compact via the enactment of a statute (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the contents of this Act are severable (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that this Act shall take effect November 1, 2026 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text