Which of the following best describes statutes in professional regulation?

• A. Temporary, detailed administrative requirements created by executive branch agencies to implement statutes
• B. Local ordinances enacted by counties
• C. Foundational laws created by regulatory boards
• D. Permanent, foundational laws enacted by legislative bodies that set broad policy

Answer: (D)

Statutes are the permanent, foundational laws created by the legislative branch that set the broad policy for regulating professions. In dentistry regulation, statutes authorize the regulatory board to license practitioners, define the overall scope of practice, and establish the powers to discipline or sanction professionals. They provide the authority and framework the board operates within. The day-to-day details—like application forms, fees, and specific procedures—aren’t statutes themselves; they’re laid out in regulations, which are more technical rules created by the agency to implement the statutes. Local ordinances, on the other hand, are laws at the county or city level, not statewide statutes. So the description that best fits statutes is that they are permanent, foundational laws enacted by legislative bodies that set broad policy.