Maryland 2025 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB723 Enrolled / Bill

Filed 04/02/2025

                     
 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. 
        [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. 
         Underlining indicates amendments to bill. 
         Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by 
amendment. 
         Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments. 
          *hb0723*  
  
HOUSE BILL 723 
J2   	(5lr2379) 
ENROLLED BILL 
— Health and Government Operations/Finance — 
Introduced by Delegate Kerr 
 
Read and Examined by Proofreaders: 
 
_______________________________________________ 
Proofreader. 
_______________________________________________ 
Proofreader. 
 
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this 
  
_______ day of _______________ at _________________ _______ o’clock, ________M. 
  
______________________________________________ 
Speaker.  
 
CHAPTER ______ 
 
AN ACT concerning 1 
 
State Board of Dental Examiners – Health Occupations – Authorization to 2 
Practice for Former Federal Employees and Dental Applicants Licensed or 3 
Certified in Another State 4 
 
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Dental Examiners to issue a license or 5 
certification to certain applicants licensed or certified by another state within a 6 
certain amount of time; requiring that a dental radiation technologist certified in 7 
another state be issued a certification by the State Board under certain 8 
circumstances; requiring the Maryland Department of Health to develop a plan for a 9 
temporary or permanent authorization to practice a health occupation in the State for 10 
certain individuals who left employment with a federal agency after a certain date; 11 
and generally relating to the issuance of licenses and certifications by the State 12 
Board of Dental Examiners to applicants licensed or certified in another state 13 
practice of health occupations. 14 
  2 	HOUSE BILL 723  
 
 
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1 
 Article – Health Occupations 2 
Section 4–306 3 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 4 
 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5 
 
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6 
 Article – Health Occupations 7 
Section 4–505 8 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 9 
 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10 
 
BY adding to 11 
 Article – Health Occupations 12 
Section 4–505.1 13 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 14 
 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15 
 
 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16 
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17 
 
Article – Health Occupations 18 
 
4–306. 19 
 
 (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 20 
 
 (2) “ADEX” means the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., or its 21 
successor organization. 22 
 
 (3) (i) “ADHLEX” means the American Dental Hygiene Licensing 23 
Examination designed and developed by ADEX, or its successor examination. 24 
 
 (ii) “ADHLEX” includes a written component and a clinical 25 
component. 26 
 
 (4) (i) “ADLEX” means the American Dental Licensing Examination 27 
designed and developed by ADEX, or its successor examination. 28 
 
 (ii) “ADLEX” includes a written component and a clinical 29 
component. 30 
 
 (b) (1) A dentist licensed in any other state shall be issued a license in this 31 
State if the applicant: 32 
 
 (i) 1. Has passed the ADLEX; and 33 
   	HOUSE BILL 723 	3 
 
 
 2. Has passed the Maryland Dental Jurisprudence 1 
Examination given by the Board or its designee; or 2 
 
 (ii) 1. For the 5 preceding years, has been actively engaged in 3 
practicing dentistry for at least 850 hours on average per year; 4 
 
 2. Has passed an examination with a clinical component as a 5 
requirement for licensure in another state; 6 
 
 3. Has passed a comprehensive written examination on 7 
applied clinical diagnosis and treatment planning administered by ADEX; and 8 
 
 4. Has passed the Maryland Dental Jurisprudence 9 
Examination given by the Board or its designee. 10 
 
 (2) A dental hygienist licensed in any other state shall be issued a license 11 
in this State if the applicant: 12 
 
 (i) 1. Has passed the ADHLEX; and 13 
 
 2. Has passed the Maryland Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence 14 
Examination given by the Board or its designee; or 15 
 
 (ii) 1. For the 3 preceding years, has been actively engaged in 16 
practicing dental hygiene for at least 150 hours on average per year; 17 
 
 2. Has passed an examination with a clinical component as a 18 
requirement for licensure in another state; 19 
 
 3. Has passed a comprehensive written examination on 20 
applied clinical diagnosis and treatment planning administered by ADEX; and 21 
 
 4. Has passed the Maryland Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence 22 
Examination given by the Board or its designee. 23 
 
 (c) (1) The Board may adopt regulations for the content and administration of 24 
examinations and any other regulations necessary to provide for the licensure of 25 
individuals who apply for a license to practice dentistry under subsection (b)(1) of this 26 
section. 27 
 
 (2) The Board may adopt regulations for the content and administration of 28 
examinations and any other regulations necessary to provide for the licensure of 29 
individuals who apply for a license to practice dental hygiene under subsection (b)(2) of this 30 
section. 31 
 
 (d) An applicant for a general license to practice dentistry under this section shall: 32 
  4 	HOUSE BILL 723  
 
 
 (1) Pay the application fee required by § 4–304 of this subtitle; and 1 
 
 (2) Provide adequate evidence that the applicant: 2 
 
 (i) Meets the qualifications otherwise required by this title for a 3 
general license to practice dentistry; 4 
 
 (ii) Holds a license to practice dentistry in another state; 5 
 
 (iii) Has satisfied the examination requirements provided in 6 
subsection (b)(1) of this section; 7 
 
 (iv) Is not being investigated by a disciplinary authority of another 8 
state, does not have charges pending against the applicant’s license, and has not been 9 
disciplined by a disciplinary or licensing authority of any other state or country, or been 10 
convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country for an act that would be grounds 11 
for disciplinary action under § 4–315 of this subtitle; and 12 
 
 (v) Has not previously failed an examination for licensure as a 13 
dentist in this State. 14 
 
 (e) An applicant for a general license to practice dental hygiene under this section 15 
shall: 16 
 
 (1) Pay the application fee required by § 4–304 of this subtitle; and 17 
 
 (2) Provide adequate evidence that the applicant: 18 
 
 (i) Meets the qualifications otherwise required by this title for a 19 
general license to practice dental hygiene; 20 
 
 (ii) Holds a license to practice dental hygiene in another state; 21 
 
 (iii) Has satisfied the examination requirements provided in 22 
subsection (b)(2) of this section; 23 
 
 (iv) Is not being investigated by a disciplinary authority of another 24 
state, does not have charges pending against the applicant’s license, and has not been 25 
disciplined by a disciplinary or licensing authority of any other state or country, or been 26 
convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country for an act that would be grounds 27 
for disciplinary action under § 4–315 of this subtitle; and 28 
 
 (v) Has not previously failed an examination for licensure as a 29 
dental hygienist in this State. 30 
   	HOUSE BILL 723 	5 
 
 
 (F) IF AN APPLICANT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE UNDER 1 
THIS SECTION, THE BOARD SHALL ISSUE THE LICENSE WITHIN 15 BUSINESS DAYS 2 
AFTER RECEIVING THE COMPLETED APPLICATIO N.  3 
 
4–505. 4 
 
 (a) The Board of Dental Examiners shall: 5 
 
 (1) Define, for the purpose of this section, the terms “dental radiation 6 
technologist” and “practice dental radiation technology”; 7 
 
 (2) Adopt rules and regulations concerning qualifications, training, 8 
certification, monitoring of, and enforcement requirements for a dental radiation 9 
technologist; and 10 
 
 (3) Provide for a requirement to ensure competency in new safety and 11 
technological advances. 12 
 
 (b) The qualifications required of applicants for Board certification as a dental 13 
radiation technologist shall include requirements established by: 14 
 
 (1) The American Dental Association; or 15 
 
 (2) Any applicable federal standards for training and certification. 16 
 
 (c) After July 1, 1988, an individual must be certified by the Board as a dental 17 
radiation technologist before a licensed dentist may employ the individual to practice 18 
dental radiation technology. 19 
 
 (d) After July 1, 1988, an individual may not practice dental radiation technology 20 
unless certified by the Board. 21 
 
 (e) At least 1 month before a certificate expires, the Board shall send to each 22 
certificate holder, by electronic means or first–class mail to the last known electronic or 23 
physical address of the certificate holder, a renewal notice that states: 24 
 
 (1) The date on which the current certificate expires; 25 
 
 (2) The date by which the renewal application must be received by the 26 
Board for the renewal to be issued and mailed before the certificate expires; and 27 
 
 (3) The amount of the renewal fee. 28 
 
 (f) An individual may be simultaneously certified as a dental radiation 29 
technologist under this section and as an expanded function dental assistant. 30 
  6 	HOUSE BILL 723  
 
 
4–505.1. 1 
 
 (A) A DENTAL RADIATION TEC HNOLOGIST AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE IN 2 
ANOTHER STATE SHALL BE ISSUED A CERTIFIC ATE IN THIS STATE IF THE 3 
APPLICANT: 4 
 
 (1) PAYS THE APPLICATION FEE REQUIRE D BY THE BOARD; AND 5 
 
 (2) PROVIDES ADEQUATE EVI DENCE THAT THE APPLI CANT: 6 
 
 (I) MEETS THE QUALIFICATI ONS OTHERWISE REQUIR ED 7 
UNDER THIS TITLE FOR A CERTIFICATION TO P RACTICE DENTAL RADIA TION 8 
TECHNOLOGY ; 9 
 
 (II) HAS SATISFIED THE EXA MINATION REQUIREMENT FOR 10 
CERTIFICATION OF ANO THER STATE THAT THE BOARD DETERMINES IS 11 
COMPARABLE TO THE EX AMINATION REQUIREMEN T IN THIS STATE;  12 
 
 (III) IS NOT BEING INVESTIG ATED BY A DISCIPLINA RY 13 
AUTHORITY OF ANOTHER STATE, DOES NOT HAVE CHARGE S PENDING AGAINST TH E 14 
APPLICANT’S CERTIFICATION , AND HAS NOT BEEN DIS CIPLINED BY A DISCIP LINARY 15 
OR CERTIFYING AUTHOR ITY OF ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTRY, OR BEEN CONVICTED 16 
OR DISCIPLINED BY A COURT OF ANY STATE O R COUNTRY FOR AN ACT THAT WOULD 17 
BE GROUNDS FOR DISCI PLINARY ACTION UNDER § 4–315 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 18 
 
 (IV) HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY FA ILED AN EXAMINATION FOR 19 
CERTIFICATION AS A D ENTAL RADIATION TECH NOLOGIST IN THIS STATE. 20 
 
 (B) IF AN APPLICANT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION 21 
UNDER THIS SECTION , THE BOARD SHALL ISSUE THE CERTIFICATE WITHIN 15 22 
BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE COMPLE TED APPLICATION .  23 
 
 (C) THE BOARD MAY ADOPT ANY R EGULATIONS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE 24 
FOR THE CERTIFICATIO N OF INDIVIDUALS WHO APPLY FOR A CERTIFIC ATION TO 25 
PRACTICE DENTAL RADI ATION THERAPY UNDER THIS SECTION. 26 
 
 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 27 
 
 (a) The Maryland Department of Health shall develop a plan for a temporary or 28 
permanent authorization to practice a health occupation in the State for individuals who: 29 
 
 (1) are not licensed or otherwise authorized to practice the health occupation 30 
in the State; 31 
   	HOUSE BILL 723 	7 
 
 
 (2) hold a license or other authorization issued by another state that is 1 
equivalent to the license or other authorization required to practice the health occupation in 2 
this State; and 3 
 
 (3) left employment with a federal agency after January 20, 2025. 4 
 
 (b) On or before October 1, 2025, the Department shall submit the plan, including 5 
any necessary statutory changes, to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health 6 
and Government Operations Committee in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 7 
Government Article.  8 
 
 SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 1 of this Act shall 9 
take effect October 1, 2025. 10 
 
 SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in Section 11 
3 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2025.  12 
 
 
 
Approved: 
________________________________________________________________________________  
 Governor. 
________________________________________________________________________________  
  Speaker of the House of Delegates. 
________________________________________________________________________________  
         President of the Senate.