1. (1) Any person licensed to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene pursuant to this article 220 may apply to the board to be transferred to an inactive status. The licensee must submit an application in the form and manner designated by the board. The board may grant inactive status by issuing an inactive license or deny the application for any of the causes set forth in section 12-220-201.

2. (2) Any person applying for a license under this section must:

   1. (a) Provide an affidavit to the board that the applicant, after a date certain, will not practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene in this state unless the applicant is issued a license to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene pursuant to subsection (5) of this section;
   2. (b) Pay the license fee as authorized pursuant to section 12-20-105; and
   3. (c) Comply with any financial responsibility or professional liability insurance requirements established by the board pursuant to sections 12-220-307 and 13-64-301 (1)(a), as applicable.
3. (3) The inactive status must be plainly indicated on the face of any inactive license certificate issued under this section.
4. (4) The board may take disciplinary action pursuant to sections 12-220-202 to 12-220-206 against any person licensed under this section for any act committed while the person was licensed pursuant to this article 220.
5. (5) Any person licensed under this section who wishes to resume the practice of dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene must file an application in the form and manner the board designates, pay the license fee promulgated by the board pursuant to section 12-20-105, and meet the financial responsibility requirements or the professional liability insurance requirements established by the board pursuant to sections 12-220-307 and 13-64-301 (1)(a), as applicable. The board may approve the application and issue a license to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene or may deny the application for any of the causes set forth in section 12-220-201.

6. (6) The board shall adopt rules that allow expedited, temporary licensure during a disaster emergency declared pursuant to section 24-33.5-704 (4) for a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental therapist who has maintained a license in good standing with no past disciplinary history prior to obtaining an inactive license. The rules must address:

   1. (a) Supervision or practice monitoring requirements;
   2. (b) Liability coverage requirements;
   3. (c) Other conditions of or limitation on practice; and
   4. (d) Temporary license terms, administrative approvals, timelines, and renewal options.

Source: L. 2020: Entire article amended with relocations, (HB 20-1056), ch. 64, p. 249, § 1, effective September 14. L. 2022: (1), (2)(a), and (5) amended, (SB 22-219), ch. 381, p. 2720, § 22, effective January 1, 2023. L. 2025: (6) added, (SB 25-194), ch. 171, p. 702, § 16, effective August 6.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-220-120 as it existed prior to 2020.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 22-219, see section 1 of chapter 381, Session Laws of Colorado 2022.