Print ArticleSACRAMENTO: SB 1178, authored by Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley), is now law in California after receiving the signature of Governor Schwarzenegger over the weekend. The measure is designed to protect the safety of dental consumers, and is closely related to SB 252, which the Governor signed into law last year.
SB 252, also authored by Senator Aanestad, required that registered sex offenders be prohibited from licensure by the Dental Board of California and also required the Dental Board to revoke existing licenses for any individual who was required to register as a sex offender.
However, SB 252 applied only to those individuals who had been convicted of sex offenses under California state law. The new measure, SB 1178, will extend the same set of requirements to dental professionals who have been convicted of sex offenses under federal law.
"I´d like to thank this Governor for his support on this measure which is important for consumers and the dental industry," said Senator Aanestad. "The unanimous support this measure received during the legislative process sends a strong message that dental patients have a right to be protected from dangerous predators in California."
Senator Aanestad introduced both SB 252 and SB 1178 following high profile cases where patients had been victimized by physicians who were unable to respect appropriate boundaries and limit their behavior. Two of the cases involved physicians who were actually convicted of sexual offenses, but were still allowed to resume their medical practices.
Senator Aanestad, a licensed Oral Surgeon who owned and operated his own private practice in Grass Valley for several decades, says California patients should be able to fully trust medical professionals.
SB 1178 will require the Dental Board of California to deny an application for licensure or renewal, or revoke the license, of an individual who is required to register as a sex offender under state or federal law. It gives the Dental Board a mechanism to better protect the public by providing much faster legal action against individuals who have been convicted of sexual crimes.
"It should not matter where the conviction took place, or what court the conviction took place in," said Senator Aanestad. "Registered sex offenders should not be providing dental services for adults or children under any circumstance."
SB 252, also authored by Senator Aanestad, required that registered sex offenders be prohibited from licensure by the Dental Board of California and also required the Dental Board to revoke existing licenses for any individual who was required to register as a sex offender.
However, SB 252 applied only to those individuals who had been convicted of sex offenses under California state law. The new measure, SB 1178, will extend the same set of requirements to dental professionals who have been convicted of sex offenses under federal law.
"I´d like to thank this Governor for his support on this measure which is important for consumers and the dental industry," said Senator Aanestad. "The unanimous support this measure received during the legislative process sends a strong message that dental patients have a right to be protected from dangerous predators in California."
Senator Aanestad introduced both SB 252 and SB 1178 following high profile cases where patients had been victimized by physicians who were unable to respect appropriate boundaries and limit their behavior. Two of the cases involved physicians who were actually convicted of sexual offenses, but were still allowed to resume their medical practices.
Senator Aanestad, a licensed Oral Surgeon who owned and operated his own private practice in Grass Valley for several decades, says California patients should be able to fully trust medical professionals.
SB 1178 will require the Dental Board of California to deny an application for licensure or renewal, or revoke the license, of an individual who is required to register as a sex offender under state or federal law. It gives the Dental Board a mechanism to better protect the public by providing much faster legal action against individuals who have been convicted of sexual crimes.
"It should not matter where the conviction took place, or what court the conviction took place in," said Senator Aanestad. "Registered sex offenders should not be providing dental services for adults or children under any circumstance."
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