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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
March 16, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Plumer, Armstrong, Baldeh,
Brooks, Callahan, Dittrich, Duchow, Gundrum, Krug, Magnafici, Moses,
Mursau, L. Myers, Neylon, Ramthun, J. Rodriguez, Rozar, Schraa,
Skowronski, Snyder, Spiros, Tauchen and Zimmerman, cosponsored by
Senators Felzkowski, Bernier, Darling, Kooyenga, Pfaff, Ringhand,
Stafsholt, Stroebel and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Assembly
Organization.
AB169,2,2 1An Act to amend 15.405 (6) (b), 36.61 (1) (b), 36.61 (3) (a), 36.61 (5) (b) 1., 36.61
2(8) (c) 3., 146.81 (1) (c), 146.89 (1) (r) 1., 146.89 (1) (r) 5., 146.89 (3) (b) 8., 146.89
3(3m) (intro.), 146.997 (1) (d) 3., 155.01 (7), 252.14 (1) (ar) 3., 257.01 (5) (a), 257.01
4(5) (b), 447.02 (1) (a), 447.02 (1) (b), 447.02 (2) (a), 447.02 (3) (a) (intro.), 447.02
5(3) (a) 2., 447.02 (3) (b), 447.02 (5), 447.03 (3) (c), 447.05, 447.06 (1), 447.06 (2)
6(a) 3., 447.06 (2) (b), 447.06 (2) (c) (intro.), 447.06 (2) (c) 2. (intro.), 447.063,
7447.065, 447.07 (1), 447.07 (3) (intro.), 447.07 (3) (e) to (h), 447.40 (intro.),
8447.40 (6), 448.03 (2) (a), 448.21 (1) (a), 450.03 (1) (e), 450.10 (3) (a) 4., 462.02
9(2) (d), 462.04, 463.10 (5), 463.12 (5), 632.87 (4), 895.48 (1m) (a) (intro.), 895.48
10(1m) (a) 2. and 941.315 (5); and to create 36.61 (1) (ak), 440.03 (13) (b) 20m.,
11440.08 (2) (a) 25m., 447.01 (6g), 447.01 (6r), 447.02 (1) (g), 447.02 (3) (a) 3.,
12447.02 (6), 447.03 (1m), 447.03 (3) (am), 447.04 (1m), 447.057, 447.06 (1m) and
13447.06 (3) of the statutes; relating to: licensure of dental therapists; extending
14the time limit for emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from

1emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from rule-making
2procedures; and granting rule-making authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill provides for the licensure of dental therapists, who are health care
practitioners who may engage in the limited practice of dentistry.
Under current law, dentists and dental hygienists are licensed by the Dentistry
Examining Board to practice dentistry and dental hygiene, respectively. This bill
provides for the licensure of a third type of dental practitioner, dental therapists.
Under the bill, the board must grant a dental therapist license to an individual who
satisfies certain criteria, including completion of an approved dental therapy
program and passage of required examinations.
Dental therapists may provide dental therapy services only under the
supervision of a dentist with whom the dental therapist has a collaborative
management agreement that addresses various aspects of the dental therapist's
practice. Dental therapists are, subject to the terms of a collaborative management
agreement and what was covered in their dental therapy education program, limited
to providing services, treatments, and procedures that are specified in the bill, as
well as additional services, treatments, or procedures specified by the board by rule.
Dental therapists may initially provide dental therapy services only under the direct
or indirect supervision of a qualifying dentist. Once a dental therapist licensed has
provided dental therapy services for at least 2,000 hours, the dental therapist may
provide services under the general supervision of a qualifying dentist. However, the
level of supervision for a dental therapist may be further limited under the terms of
a collaborative management agreement. Dental therapists must also, under the bill,
either 1) limit their practice to federally defined dental shortage areas or 2) practice
in settings where at least 50 percent of their patient base consists of certain specified
populations. Dental therapists must complete 12 hours of continuing education each
biennium.
The bill subjects dental therapists to, or covers dental therapists under, various
other laws, including the health care records law, the volunteer health care provider
program, the health care worker protection law, and the emergency volunteer health
care practitioner law. The bill also provides for loan forgiveness for dental therapists
under the health care provider loan assistance program.
Finally, the bill requires, effective when 50 individuals become licensed as a
dental therapist in this state or five years after the bill is enacted, that, to the extent
possible, one of the dental hygienist members on the board also be licensed as a
dental therapist.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB169,1 1Section 1. 15.405 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,3,72 15.405 (6) (b) Three dental hygienists who are licensed under ch. 447. The
3governor shall, to the extent possible, appoint members under this paragraph so that
4at least one of the members under this paragraph is an individual who is also a dental
5therapist licensed under ch. 447.
Notwithstanding s. 15.08 (1m) (a), the dental
6hygienist
members under this paragraph may participate in the preparation and
7grading of licensing examinations for dental hygienists.
AB169,2 8Section 2 . 36.61 (1) (ak) of the statutes is created to read:
AB169,3,109 36.61 (1) (ak) “Dental therapist” means an individual licensed under s. 447.04
10(1m).
AB169,3 11Section 3 . 36.61 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,3,1312 36.61 (1) (b) “Health care provider" means a dental therapist, dental hygienist,
13physician assistant, nurse-midwife, or nurse practitioner.
AB169,4 14Section 4 . 36.61 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,3,2115 36.61 (3) (a) The board shall enter into a written agreement with the health
16care provider. In the agreement, the health care provider shall agree to practice at
17least 32 clinic hours per week for 3 years in one or more eligible practice areas in this
18state or in a rural area, except that a health care provider in the expanded loan
19assistance program under sub. (8) who is not a dental therapist or dental hygienist
20may only agree to practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health
21professional shortage area.
AB169,5
1Section 5. 36.61 (5) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,4,72 36.61 (5) (b) 1. The degree to which there is an extremely high need for medical
3care in the eligible practice area, health professional shortage area, or rural area in
4which an eligible applicant who is not a dental therapist or dental hygienist desires
5to practice and the degree to which there is an extremely high need for dental care
6in the dental health shortage area or rural area in which an eligible applicant who
7is a dental therapist or dental hygienist desires to practice.
AB169,6 8Section 6 . 36.61 (8) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,4,129 36.61 (8) (c) 3. Practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health
10professional shortage area, if the health care provider is not a dental therapist or
11dental hygienist, or in a dental health shortage area, if the health care provider is
12a dental therapist or dental hygienist.
AB169,7 13Section 7 . 146.81 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,4,1414 146.81 (1) (c) A dentist or dental therapist licensed under ch. 447.
AB169,8 15Section 8 . 146.89 (1) (r) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,4,2016 146.89 (1) (r) 1. Licensed as a physician under ch. 448, a dentist, dental
17therapist,
or dental hygienist under ch. 447, a registered nurse, practical nurse, or
18nurse-midwife under ch. 441, an optometrist under ch. 449, a physician assistant
19under ch. 448, a pharmacist under ch. 450, a chiropractor under ch. 446, a podiatrist
20under subch. IV of ch. 448, or a physical therapist under subch. III of ch. 448.
AB169,9 21Section 9 . 146.89 (1) (r) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,5,222 146.89 (1) (r) 5. An individual who holds a valid, unexpired license,
23certification, or registration issued by another state or territory that authorizes or
24qualifies the individual to perform acts that are substantially the same as those acts
25that an individual who is described in subds. 1. to 4., except a dentist , dental

1therapist,
or dental hygienist, is licensed or certified to perform and who performs
2acts that are within the scope of that license, certification, or registration.
AB169,10 3Section 10 . 146.89 (3) (b) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,5,84 146.89 (3) (b) 8. Dental services, including tooth extractions and other
5procedures done under local anesthesia only and any necessary suturing related to
6the extractions, performed by a dentist or dental therapist who is a volunteer health
7provider; and dental hygiene services, performed by a dental hygienist who is a
8volunteer health provider.
AB169,11 9Section 11 . 146.89 (3m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,5,1310 146.89 (3m) (intro.) A volunteer health care provider who is a dentist or dental
11therapist
may provide dental services or a volunteer health care provider who is a
12dental hygienist may provide dental hygiene services, to persons who are recipients
13of Medical Assistance, if all of the following apply:
AB169,12 14Section 12 . 146.997 (1) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,5,1515 146.997 (1) (d) 3. A dentist or dental therapist licensed under ch. 447.
AB169,13 16Section 13. 155.01 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,6,317 155.01 (7) “Health care provider" means a nurse licensed or permitted under
18ch. 441, a chiropractor licensed under ch. 446, a dentist or dental therapist licensed
19under ch. 447, a physician, physician assistant, perfusionist, podiatrist, physical
20therapist, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapist, or occupational
21therapy assistant licensed under ch. 448, a person practicing Christian Science
22treatment, an optometrist licensed under ch. 449, a psychologist licensed under ch.
23455, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who holds a compact
24privilege under subch. IX of ch. 448, a partnership thereof, a corporation or limited
25liability company thereof that provides health care services, a cooperative health

1care association organized under s. 185.981 that directly provides services through
2salaried employees in its own facility, or a home health agency, as defined in s. 50.49
3(1) (a).
AB169,14 4Section 14 . 252.14 (1) (ar) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,6,55 252.14 (1) (ar) 3. A dentist or dental therapist licensed under ch. 447.
AB169,15 6Section 15 . 257.01 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,6,127 257.01 (5) (a) An individual who is licensed as a physician, a physician
8assistant, or a podiatrist under ch. 448, licensed as a registered nurse, licensed
9practical nurse, or nurse-midwife under ch. 441, licensed as a dentist or dental
10therapist
under ch. 447, licensed as a pharmacist under ch. 450, licensed as a
11veterinarian or certified as a veterinary technician under ch. 89, or certified as a
12respiratory care practitioner under ch. 448.
AB169,16 13Section 16 . 257.01 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,6,2114 257.01 (5) (b) An individual who was at any time within the previous 10 years,
15but is not currently, licensed as a physician, a physician assistant, or a podiatrist
16under ch. 448, licensed as a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or
17nurse-midwife, under ch. 441, licensed as a dentist or dental therapist under ch. 447,
18licensed as a pharmacist under ch. 450, licensed as a veterinarian or certified as a
19veterinary technician under ch. 89, or certified as a respiratory care practitioner
20under ch. 448, if the individual's license or certification was never revoked, limited,
21suspended, or denied renewal.
AB169,17 22Section 17 . 440.03 (13) (b) 20m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB169,6,2323 440.03 (13) (b) 20m. Dental therapist.
AB169,18 24Section 18 . 440.08 (2) (a) 25m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB169,6,2525 440.08 (2) (a) 25m. Dental therapist: October 1 of each odd-numbered year.
AB169,19
1Section 19. 447.01 (6g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB169,7,32 447.01 (6g) “Dental therapist” means an individual who practices dental
3therapy.
AB169,20 4Section 20 . 447.01 (6r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB169,7,65 447.01 (6r) “Dental therapy” means the limited practice of dentistry, consisting
6of the services, treatments, and procedures specified in s. 447.06 (3) (b).
AB169,21 7Section 21 . 447.02 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,7,118 447.02 (1) (a) Governing the reexamination of an applicant who fails an
9examination specified in s. 447.04 (1) (a) 5., (1m) (e), or (2) (a) 5. The rules may specify
10additional educational requirements for those applicants and may specify the
11number of times an applicant may be examined.
AB169,22 12Section 22 . 447.02 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,7,1413 447.02 (1) (b) Governing the standards and conditions for the use of radiation
14and ionizing equipment in the practice of dentistry or dental therapy.
AB169,23 15Section 23 . 447.02 (1) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB169,7,1816 447.02 (1) (g) Specifying services, treatments, or procedures, in addition to
17those specified under s. 447.06 (3) (b) 1. to 27., that are included within the practice
18of dental therapy.
AB169,24 19Section 24 . 447.02 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,7,2120 447.02 (2) (a) The conditions for supervision and the degree of supervision
21required under ss. 447.03 (3) (a), (am), (b) and (d) 2. and 447.065.
AB169,25 22Section 25 . 447.02 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,8,223 447.02 (3) (a) (intro.) The examining board may issue a permit authorizing the
24practice in this state, without compensation, of dentistry, dental therapy, or dental

1hygiene to an applicant who is licensed to practice dentistry , dental therapy, or dental
2hygiene in another state, if all of the following apply:
AB169,26 3Section 26 . 447.02 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,8,74 447.02 (3) (a) 2. The examining board determines that the applicant is qualified
5and satisfies the criteria specified under s. 447.04 (1) (b) 1. to 3., except that the
6examining board may not require the applicant to pass an examination of state
7statutes and rules relating to dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene.
AB169,27 8Section 27. 447.02 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB169,8,119 447.02 (3) (a) 3. If the applicant is applying for a permit to practice dental
10therapy, the applicant graduated from a dental therapy education program approved
11under s. 447.04 (1m) (c) 1. to 3.
AB169,28 12Section 28 . 447.02 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,8,1713 447.02 (3) (b) A permit under this subsection shall authorize the practice of
14dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene in a specified area of the state for a period
15of time not more than 10 days in a year and may be renewed by the examining board.
16The examining board may not require an applicant to pay a fee for the issuance or
17renewal of a permit under this subsection.
AB169,29 18Section 29 . 447.02 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,8,2319 447.02 (5) Except as provided in ss. 447.058 and 447.063, nothing in this
20chapter may be construed as authorizing the examining board to regulate business
21or administrative support functions or services, that do not constitute the practice
22of dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene, provided to a business that provides
23dental or dental hygiene services.
AB169,30 24Section 30. 447.02 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
AB169,9,5
1447.02 (6) The examining board shall send a notice to the legislative reference
2bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register when the board
3determines that 50 or more individuals are currently licensed as dental therapists
4in this state under s. 447.04 (1m). This subsection does not apply on or after the first
5day of the 6th year beginning after publication of this act .... [LRB inserts date].
AB169,31 6Section 31 . 447.03 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB169,9,97 447.03 (1m) Dental therapists. Except as provided under sub. (3) and s.
8447.02 (3), no person may do any of the following unless he or she is licensed to
9practice dental therapy under this chapter:
AB169,9,1010 (a) Practice or offer to practice dental therapy.
AB169,9,1311 (b) Represent himself or herself to the public as a dental therapist or use, in
12connection with his or her name, any title or description that may convey the
13impression that he or she is a dental therapist.
AB169,32 14Section 32 . 447.03 (3) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB169,9,1915 447.03 (3) (am) A dental therapy student who practices dental therapy under
16the supervision of a dentist in an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or other institution
17connected or associated for training purposes with a dental therapy school accredited
18by the American Dental Association commission on dental accreditation or its
19successor agency.
AB169,33 20Section 33 . 447.03 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169,9,2421 447.03 (3) (c) An individual licensed to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or
22dental hygiene in another state or country who practices dentistry , dental therapy,
23or dental hygiene in a program of dental education or research at the invitation of
24a group of dentists or practices dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene under the

1jurisdiction of the army, navy, air force, U.S. public health service, or veterans
2bureau.
AB169,34 3Section 34 . 447.04 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
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