Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 612, Sec. 2. (AB 341) Effective January 1, 2026.
(a)No later than July 1, 2027, the State Department of Developmental Services shall contract with a public or private California dental school or college to administer the Oral Health for People with Disabilities Technical Assistance Center Program. The department shall prioritize contracting with a public California dental school or college to administer the program. The purpose of the program is to improve dental care services for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities by reducing or eliminating the need for dental treatment using
sedation and general anesthesia. The contract shall expire on June 30, 2032.
(b)The contracted California dental school or college may partner with a public or private dental school or college. If the contracted California dental school or college elects to partner with another dental school or college, the contracted California dental school or college shall prioritize partnering with a public California dental school or college. The contracted school or resulting partnership shall collectively meet both of the following qualifications:
(1)All partner public or private schools shall be located in California and be approved by the Dental Board of California or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
(2)Lead faculty at one or more schools shall demonstrate having developed and implemented at regional centers, community-based dental care programs that have achieved all of the following:
(A)Successfully used teledentistry-supported systems to bring dental care to people with developmental disabilities in community settings.
(B)Successfully reduced the number of people needing dental care using sedation or
general anesthesia.
(C)Demonstrated improved oral health in community settings as the result of meeting the achievements described in
subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(c)In administering the Oral Health for People with Disabilities Technical Assistance Center Program, the contracted school or partnership shall do all of the following:
(1)Work with the department to engage up to 21 regional centers to participate in the program.
(2)Provide practical experience, systems development, and expertise in relevant subject areas.
(3)Enlist dental offices and clinics to participate and establish teams of
community-based allied personnel and dentists to work with each participating regional center.
(4)Design, implement, and support customized operational systems in each community in conjunction with the local oral health community and regional center personnel.
(5)Provide initial and ongoing training, monitoring, and support for participating oral health personnel, including, but not limited to, dental offices and clinics, and dentists and allied dental personnel.
(6)Provide initial and ongoing training, monitoring, and support for participating regional center personnel.
(7)Monitor and support the ongoing improvement and sustainability of operational
systems at each regional center.
(8)Organize and direct a statewide advisory committee and learning community.
(9)Collect and analyze program data with the support of participating regional centers and oral health providers.
(d)Beginning one year after the contract described in subdivision (a) commences and until June 30, 2033, the department shall submit to the Legislature an annual report of the data described in paragraph (9) of subdivision (c), in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(e)To implement this section, the department may enter into exclusive or nonexclusive contracts, or amend existing contracts, on a bid or negotiated basis. Contracts entered into or amended pursuant to this subdivision shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and the review or approval of the Department of General Services.