NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3892
SPONSOR: Weprin TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to permitting dentists to
administer vaccinations against human papillomavirus
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 6601 of the education law to authorize
dentists to administer human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations.
Section 2 provides for an immediate effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted
infection in the country. It can be spread in many ways, including oral-
ly, and can lead to significant and serious medical diseases, including
but not limited to certain types of cancers. Every dentist in New York
must have a four-year undergraduate degree, complete four years of
dental school, complete a one-year residency program, and pass a
National Dental Board examination. Dentists can administer Novocain and
other injectable medications. From a clinical perspective, dentists
certainly are just as qualified to administer vaccines as other profes-
sionals, such as pharmacists, nurses, physician assistants, and other
health paraprofessionals currently authorized to administer vaccines.
From a public health perspective, allowing dentists to administer HPV
vaccinations makes sense. Dentists frequently communicate with primary
care professionals and other medical professionals to provide wholistic
care around a patient. This is particularly true where the dentist
works, in or with a federally qualified health clinic (FQHC). FQHCs
provide a wide range of services -- including specialty, dental, sexual
health, and primary and preventive care -- to underserved communities.
Allowing dentists to administer vaccinations provides patients with
immediate access. Dentists can address questions and, when appropriate,
administer vaccinations when a patient is already at a medical appoint-
ment. This saves the patient from having to go somewhere else, take
additional time off from work or school and/or find someone to take care
of a family member.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3892
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to permitting dentists to
administer vaccinations against human papillomavirus
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 6601 of the education law, as amended by chapter
2 576 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 6601. Definition of practice of dentistry. The practice of the
4 profession of dentistry is defined as diagnosing, treating, operating,
5 or prescribing for any disease, pain, injury, deformity, or physical
6 condition of the oral and maxillofacial area related to restoring and
7 maintaining dental health. The practice of dentistry includes the
8 prescribing and fabrication of dental prostheses and appliances. The
9 practice of dentistry may include performing physical evaluations in
10 conjunction with the provision of dental treatment and the adminis-
11 tration of vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV).
12 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
13 it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07635-01-5
