NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8401

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 09, 2025	referred to rules

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §6604, Ed L

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Expands how applicants may qualify for a license to be a dentist to include postdoctoral specialty programs.

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8401

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to licensing requirements
for prospective dentists

 
PURPOSE:

To improve access to dental care for underprivileged communities and
reduce unnecessary delays in licensure by allowing residents in multi-
year CODA-accredited specialty programs to apply for licensure after
completing the first year and passing the ADEX exam. This policy was
adopted by the delegates of the New York State Dental Association
(NYSDA) at the 2025 House of Delegates as Resolution 10.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 6604 of the Education
Law.

Section 2: Establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Current licensure law requires specialty residents to complete their
entire program before applying for a license, which causes financial
hardship and restricts access to care. The proposed change will reduce
economic strain, enable dental specialists to practice sooner, and
expand care to underserved populations, especially Medicaid recipients.
Residents in multi-year specialty programs can face licensing delays of
up to six months, during which they are unable to obtain Medicaid
credentialing and begin treating underprivileged populations in New
York. As a result, many are forced to take positions that do not involve
working with those most in need. This delay also creates inequities in
the job market, as residents who have already received a New York State
Dental License have an unfair advantage over those still finishing their
training, despite being equally qualified to provide care upon
completion of their program.  New York already has a shortage of
specialists, especially in underprivileged areas. This bill will help
keep graduates in the state and allow them to apply for their first jobs
in the communities where they are most needed.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8401
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               June 9, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to licensing requirements
   for prospective dentists
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 6604 of the education  law,
 subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 613 of the laws of 2022 and subdivi-
 sion 4 as amended by chapter 76 of the laws of 2004, are amended to read
 as follows:
   (3)  Experience:  have  experience  satisfactory  to  the board and in
 accordance with the commissioner's regulations, provided that such expe-
 rience shall consist of satisfactory completion of a postdoctoral gener-
 al practice or specialty dental  residency  program,  of  at  least  one
 year's duration, OR THE FIRST YEAR OF A MULTI-YEAR CODA-ACCREDITED POST-
 DOCTORAL  SPECIALTY PROGRAM, in a hospital or dental facility accredited
 for teaching purposes by a national accrediting  body  approved  by  the
 department,  provided,  further  that  any  such residency program shall
 include a formal outcome assessment evaluation of the resident's  compe-
 tence to practice dentistry acceptable to the department;
   (4)  Examination: pass a written examination satisfactory to the board
 and in accordance  with  the  commissioner's  regulations.    APPLICANTS
 APPLYING  AFTER  FIRST YEAR OF A MULTI-YEAR CODA-ACCREDITED POSTDOCTORAL
 SPECIALTY PROGRAM SHALL HAVE ALSO PASSED THE CDCA-WREB-CITA-ADMINISTERED
 ADEX CLINICAL EXAM;
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13339-01-5

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Senate Bill S8401

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S8401

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Sponsored By

Luis R. Sepúlveda

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8401 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments