ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 1896
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: FEBRUARY 22, 2024
The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill
No. 1896.
This bill will adopt the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact in
New Jersey, which is an interstate compact that will authorize dentists
and dental hygienists licensed in a compact state to practice in any
other compact state without being individually licensed in that other
state.
Licensees in a compact state seeking to practice dentistry or dental
hygiene in another compact state will be required to apply for a
compact privilege to practice in the other state, including paying any
applicable fees. States participating in the compact are required to
meet certain requirements related to the licensure of dentists and dental
hygienists, require criminal background checks of licensees and
applicants for licensure, and participate in a data system that is used to
track adverse actions taken against licensees in states participating in
the compact. An adverse action against a licensee in a compact state
will suspend the licensee’s authorization to practice in all other
compact states. Licensees are subject to the practice laws and
jurisdiction of the state in which the licensee is practicing.
The compact will be overseen by a commission comprising one
commissioner appointed from each member state. An executive board
made up of the chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer of the
commission, as well as up to three additional commissioners, will be
charged with the day-to-day administration of the compact. The bill
sets forth specific requirements concerning the operations and
authorities of the commission and the executive board, as well as
procedures for enforcing compliance with the compact.
The compact takes effect when it is adopted in at least seven states.
As of January 2024, Iowa, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin
have enacted legislation adopting the Dentist and Dental Hygienist
Compact.
This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session
pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes
required by technical review, which has been performed.