AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY OCTOBER 20, 2004

SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 4

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR DENNISON

(COAUTHORS: SENATORS HOPKINS AND JAFFEE)

(COAUTHORS: ASSEMBLY MEMBERS JOHNSTONE AND KARR)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 4: DENTISTRY: PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION OF DENTURES.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, EVERY COMPLETE UPPER OR LOWER DENTURE FABRICATED BY A LICENSED DENTIST, OR FABRICATED PURSUANT TO THE DENTIST'S WORK ORDER, IS REQUIRED TO BE MARKED WITH THE PATIENT'S NAME OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, UNLESS THE PATIENT OBJECTS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THAT ONLY THE PATIENT' S NAME BE MARKED ON THE DENTURES AND WOULD ALSO REQUIRE ALL DENTISTS TO PROVIDE TO THEIR PATIENTS WRITTEN INFORMATION AND OBTAIN WRITTEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY THE PATIENT, AT THE TIME THE PATIENT REQUESTS THE DENTURES, REGARDING THE REQUIREMENT THAT ALL DENTURES BE MARKED FOR IDENTIFICATION.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 4: RELATING TO DENTISTRY

WHEREAS, SECTION 1706 OF THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE REQUIRES ALL DENTURES TO BE MARKED WITH THE PATIENT'S NAME OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, UNLESS THE PATIENT OBJECTS; AND

WHEREAS, THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION TO PATIENTS REGARDING THIS REQUIREMENT; AND

WHEREAS, PATIENTS IN NURSING HOMES, RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES, AND SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES FREQUENTLY MISPLACE DENTURES AND WITH IDENTIFICATION ON DENTURES THE OWNER COULD BE EASILY IDENTIFIED. THE LOSS OF DENTURES CAN COST THE PATIENT, FACILITY, OR MEDI-CAL NEEDLESS AND COSTLY EXPENDITURES; AND

WHEREAS, DENTAL RECORDS ARE A MEANS OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION IN AN EMERGENCY; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2004 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT ALL DENTISTS BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TO THEIR PATIENTS, AT THE TIME THE DENTURES ARE REQUESTED BY THE PATIENT, WITH WRITTEN INFORMATION FOLLOWED BY WRITTEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY THE PATIENT, REGARDING THE REQUIREMENT THAT ALL DENTURES BE MARKED FOR IDENTIFICATION; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HEREBY PROPOSES THAT EXISTING LAW REQUIRING ALL DENTURES TO BE MARKED WITH THE PATIENT'S NAME OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE ONLY THE PATIENT'S NAME, UNLESS THE PATIENT OBJECTS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN0414866

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