(a) An association, partnership, corporation, or group of three or more registered dental hygienists in alternative practice engaging in practice under a name that would otherwise be in violation of Section 1960 may practice under that name if the association, partnership, corporation, or group holds an unexpired, unsuspended, and unrevoked permit issued by the dental hygiene board under this section.

(b) An individual registered dental hygienist in alternative practice or a pair of registered dental hygienists in alternative practice who practice dental hygiene under a name that would otherwise violate Section 1960 may practice under that name if the licensees hold a valid permit issued by the dental hygiene board under this section. The dental hygiene board shall issue a written permit authorizing the holder to use a name specified in the permit in connection with the holder’s practice if the dental hygiene board finds all of the following:

(1) The applicant or applicants are duly licensed registered dental hygienists in alternative practice.

(2) The place where the applicant or applicants practice is owned or leased by the applicant or applicants, and the practice conducted at the place is wholly owned and entirely controlled by the applicant or applicants and is an approved area or practice setting pursuant to Section 1926.

(3) The name under which the applicant or applicants propose to operate contains at least one of the following designations: “dental hygiene group,” “dental hygiene practice,” or “dental hygiene office,” contains the family name of one or more of the past, present, or prospective associates, partners, shareholders, or members of the group, and is in conformity with Section 651 and not in violation of subdivisions (i) and (l) of Section 1950.5.

(4) All licensed persons practicing at the location designated in the application hold valid licenses and no charges of unprofessional conduct are pending against any person practicing at that location.

(c) A permit issued under this section shall expire and become invalid unless renewed in the manner provided for in this article for the renewal of permits issued under this article.

(d) A permit issued under this section may be revoked or suspended if the dental hygiene board finds that any requirement for original issuance of a permit is no longer being fulfilled by the permitholder. Proceedings for revocation or suspension shall be governed by the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(e) If charges of unprofessional conduct are filed against the holder of a permit issued under this section, or a member of an association, partnership, group, or corporation to whom a permit has been issued under this section, proceedings shall not be commenced for revocation or suspension of the permit until a final determination of the charges of unprofessional conduct, unless the charges have resulted in revocation or suspension of a license.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 456, Sec. 47. (SB 786) Effective January 1, 2020.)