Here are seven new laws that have gone into effect in the past year that California dentists and practice owners should be aware of, according to a Sept. 16 news release from the California Dental Association.
Here are seven new laws:
- Starting with tax year 2025, nonexempt employees who receive overtime pay may deduct a portion of their overtime earnings from their federal taxable income.
- Employers may not use an automated-decision system that discriminates against an applicant or employee based on any of California’s protected characteristics. The new rule, which goes into effect Oct. 1, 2025, also strengthens employers’ record-keeping requirements.
- As of January 2025, unlicensed dental assistants, regardless of their hiring date, must complete the required eight-hour infection control course prior to exposure to blood and saliva.
- Dental practice owners are responsible for ensuring all employees participate in developing the practice’s violence prevention plan, maintaining a violent-incident log containing specific information, providing employees with initial and annual training and creating and maintaining records for designated periods under the state’s workplace violence prevention law.
- Blanket and prospective meal period waivers are permitted and enforceable in California, but only if they are freely revocable and without the risk of retaliation, according to an April ruling from the California Court of Appeal.
- Dentists, permitted dental assistants, registered dental assistants and RDAEFs in California who do not have a fingerprint on record with the state’s dental board are required to submit their fingerprint before renewing their license.
- There are a number of new workplace posters that practice owners must display.
