AB 341 Unanimously Passes Assembly, Offering Hope to Families Facing Years-Long Dental Care Delays

By Pat Hornbecker, Parent-Advocate and President, The Arc of California Board of Directors

Last week, the California State Assembly voted unanimously to pass AB 341, advancing vital improvements in oral health for people with developmental disabilities. Without a single vote against the bill, AB 341 now moves to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk where it will either be signed into law or vetoed.

The Arc of California is proud to sponsor AB 341, which was authored by Assembly Member Dr. Joaquin Arambula, a long-time champion for Californians with disabilities. This bill addresses one of the most persistent and painful barriers faced by people with disabilities: access to quality dental care.

This issue is also deeply personal to me. I spent my career as a dental hygienist, and I am also the mother of an adult son, Joseph, who has a developmental disability. Despite our best efforts, Joseph has struggled throughout his life to find providers with the skills, time, and willingness to meet his dental needs. His oral health is poor, and his quality of life is diminished as a result. I know that our family’s experience is not unique, thousands of Californians with disabilities face similar hardships.

AB 341 will establish the Oral Health for People with Disabilities Technical Assistance Center Program, requiring the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to contract with a public California dental school to administer trainings, education, and technical assistance to expand the capacity of dental providers to serve people with disabilities. Additionally, it will help reduce the overreliance on general anesthesia and sedation, and shorten waitlists by giving providers the tools to use alternative and preventive approaches to care.

We know from research and from families’ lived experiences that people with disabilities suffer disproportionately from untreated cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. As a dental hygienist, I was fortunate to be able to treat my son, Joseph when he was young. But as an adult, Joseph has depended on the system of supports afforded by DDS to address his dental needs. Joseph has been on a waitlist for more than two years primarily because he requires sedation for even the simplest of procedures, therefore limiting the providers available.

Waitlists just for assessments can last 6 months to a year. Then the treatment waitlist is ranked by urgency, which can extend the timeline for treatment. Sometimes waits are as long as 3 years—just to access basic dental treatment. Too often, they go without care altogether. This bill is a commonsense, cost-effective solution that will shorten these waitlists, improve oral health outcomes, reduce long-term medical complications, and ensure that Californians with disabilities can live healthier, fuller lives.

CALL TO ACTION

We need the support of the entire community to urge Governor Newsom to sign AB 341! It is an opportunity to close a long-standing gap in California’s health care system and to demonstrate that our state values the health and dignity of people with disabilities.

THREE WAYS TO URGE THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN AB 341:

1. 1. 1. Call the Governor’s Office: (916) 445-2841
      2. Email the Governor’s Office: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/ 
      3. Mail a Letter of Support:

Governor Gavin Newsom

1021 O Street, Suite 9000

Sacramento, CA 95814

Thank you for your advocacy and showing support for this groundbreaking legislation! Together, we can build an equitable and healthy future for Californians with developmental disabilities.