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Bill requiring dentists to pass background check moves through legislature
Bill requiring dentists to pass background check moves through legislature after ABC15 investigations.
A new bill that would require dental professionals to pass a background check is on the verge of passing through the state legislature.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed HB2496 on Wednesday. It now needs to pass a full Senate vote before heading to Governor Doug Ducey’s desk for approval.
HB2496 would require new dental professionals to obtain a fingerprint clearance card before they could practice in Arizona. A fingerprint clearance card is essentially a full background check.
However, dental professionals already practicing in the state would not have to obtain a card, according to legislative testimony and records.
Last week, the bill overwhelmingly passed through the House of Representatives with a 50 to 8 vote. That vote came one day after an A BC15 investigation exposed dental professionals are not required to undergo background checks .
ABC15 also uncovered many dentists in Arizona with criminal records for offenses involving drugs and fraud, as well as sex offenses .
In addition to ABC15’s investigation, the lack of background checks for Arizona dentists was a deficiency highlighted in a 2014 state audit.
Many states require full background checks for dental professionals, including neighboring states California, Nevada and New Mexico.
In Arizona, here are other professions that require a background check:
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Teachers
• Behavioral health professionals
• Realtors
• Funeral directors and embalmers
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