Board clarifies per‑diem (PDM) payments: $100 per day payable regardless of hours worked; staff to implement tracking and may make payments retroactive

The Dental Hygiene Board of California clarified March 28 how it will apply statutory per‑diem (PDM) payments to members’ service.

Executive Officer Anthony Lum said the statute (B&P Code §103) sets a per‑diem of $100 per day ‘‘for each day actually spent in the discharge of official duties’’ and that DCA Office of Human Resources advised the board the payment is payable per day and should not be broken into hours. "Even if you perform an hour's work in a day, you're still entitled to that per diem," Lum said.

Staff will prepare a monthly tracking sheet allowing members to indicate which days they performed board functions so payments can be processed. Lum said the board can authorize retroactive payments, and he can implement retroactivity back to the beginning of the fiscal year if the board directs.

Board members discussed fairness, auditability and the potential fiscal impact. Members asked that the policy manual be updated to reflect the clarified interpretation and requested clear audit language; staff said the PDM cost could increase expenditures but is expected to be covered within current budget projections.

The board did not take a separate formal vote to change statute; the meeting recorded this as an informational clarification and staff implementation direction.