65-1431. Renewal of license; application; continuing education; biennial license renewal fee; cancellation; penalty fee; waiver for retired or disabled persons; examination for persons returning to active practice after retirement or disability. (a) Each license to practice as a dentist or dental hygienist issued by the board, shall expire on December 1 of the year specified by the board for the expiration of the license and shall be renewed on a biennial basis. Each application for renewal shall be made on a form prescribed and furnished by the board. Every licensed dentist or dental hygienist shall pay to the board a renewal fee fixed by the board as provided in K.S.A. 65-1447, and amendments thereto.

(b) To provide for a staggered system of biennial renewal of licenses, the board may renew licenses for less than two years.

(c) On or before December 1 of the year in which the licensee's license expires, the licensee shall transmit to the board a renewal application, upon a form prescribed by the board, which shall include such licensee's signature, post office address, the number of the license of such licensee, whether such licensee has been engaged during the preceding licensure period in active and continuous practice whether within or without this state, and such other information as may be required by the board, together with the biennial licensure fee for a dental hygienist which is fixed by the board pursuant to K.S.A. 65-1447, and amendments thereto.

(d) (1) The board shall require every licensee to submit with the renewal application evidence of satisfactory completion of a program of continuing education required by the board. The board by duly adopted rules and regulations shall establish the requirements for such program of continuing education as soon as possible after the effective date of this act.

(2) A dentist who is a charitable healthcare provider in Kansas who has signed an agreement to provide gratuitous services pursuant to K.S.A. 75-6102 and 75-6120, and amendments thereto, may fulfill one hour of continuing education credit by the performance of two hours of gratuitous services to medically indigent persons up to a maximum of six continuing education credits per licensure period.

(e) Upon fixing the biennial license renewal fee, the board shall immediately notify all licensees of the amount of the fee for the ensuing licensure period. Upon receipt of such fee and upon receipt of evidence that the licensee has satisfactorily completed a program of continuing education required by the board, the licensee shall be issued a renewal license authorizing the licensee to continue to practice in this state for a period of no more than two years.

(f) (1) Any license granted under authority of this act shall automatically be canceled if the holder thereof fails to apply for and obtain renewal prior to March 1 of the year following the December in which a renewal application is due.

(2) Any licensee whose license is required to be renewed for the next biennial period may obtain renewal, prior to February 1, by submitting to the board the required renewal application, payment of the biennial renewal fee and proof that such licensee has satisfactorily completed a program of continuing education required by the board. Any licensee whose license is required to be renewed for the next biennial period may obtain renewal, between February 1 and March 1, by submitting to the board the required renewal application, payment of the biennial renewal fee, payment of a penalty fee of not to exceed $500 as fixed by rules and regulations by the board and proof that such licensee has satisfactorily completed a program of continuing education required by the board. The penalty fee in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this act shall continue in effect until rules and regulations establishing a penalty fee under this section become effective.

(g) Upon failure of any licensee to pay the applicable renewal fee or to present proof of satisfactory completion of the required program of continuing education by February 1 of the year following the December in which a renewal application is due, the board shall notify such licensee, in writing, by mailing notice to such licensee's last registered address. Failure to mail or receive such notice shall not affect the cancellation of the license of such licensee.

(h) The board may waive the payment of biennial fees and the continuing education requirements for the renewal of licenses without the payment of any fee for a person who has held a Kansas license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene if such licensee has retired from such practice or has become temporarily or permanently disabled and such licensee files with the board a certificate stating either of the following:

(1) A retiring licensee shall certify to the board that the licensee is not engaged, except as provided in K.S.A. 65-1466, and amendments thereto, in the provision of any dental service, the performance of any dental operation or procedure or the delivery of any dental hygiene service as defined by the statutes of the state of Kansas; or

(2) a disabled licensee shall certify to the board that such licensee is no longer engaged in the provision of dental services, the performance of any dental operation or the provision of any dental hygiene services as defined by the statutes of the state of Kansas by reason of any physical disability, whether permanent or temporary, and shall describe the nature of such disability.

(i) The waiver of fees under subsection (h) shall continue so long as the retirement or physical disability exists. Except as provided in K.S.A. 65-1466, and amendments thereto, in the event the licensee returns to the practice for which such person is licensed, the requirement for payment of fees and continuing education requirements shall be reimposed commencing with and continuing after the date the licensee returns to such active practice. Except as provided in K.S.A. 65-1466, and amendments thereto, the performance of any dental service, including consulting service, or the performance of any dental hygiene service, including consulting service, shall be deemed the resumption of such service, requiring payment of license fees.

(j) The Kansas dental board may adopt such rules and regulations requiring the examination and providing means for examination of those persons returning to active practice after a period of retirement or disability as the board shall deem necessary and appropriate for the protection of the people of the state of Kansas except that for an applicant to practice dental hygiene who is returning to active practice after a period of retirement or disability, the board shall authorize as an alternative to the requirement for an examination that the applicant successfully complete a refresher course as defined by the board in an approved dental hygiene school.

History: L. 1943, ch. 221, § 15; L. 1953, ch. 289, § 2; L. 1955, ch. 290, § 3; L. 1963, ch. 315, § 1; L. 1974, ch. 251, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 274, § 2; L. 1980, ch. 189, § 3; L. 1983, ch. 209, § 4; L. 1996, ch. 85, § 2; L. 1996, ch. 210, § 3; L. 1999, ch. 34, § 1; L. 1999, ch. 149, § 5; L. 2000, ch. 169, § 7; L. 2001, ch. 155, § 1; L. 2002, ch. 38, § 3; L. 2007, ch. 69, § 1; L. 2016, ch. 92, § 1; July 1.