BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 378
By: Moncrief/et al. (J. Harris)
May 11, 1995
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Earlier this session, S.B. 18 re-established the State Board of
Dental Examiners (board). This bill included certain changes in the
rules relating to licensure of dentists trained in foreign or
nonaccredited schools. Due to the fact that the board did not exist
for several months, some of these dentists who had started the
application process were unable to complete the process.  When the
board came back into existence, these dentists were still unable to
obtain licensure because the rules had changed.

PURPOSE

S.B. 378 would require an applicant for a license to practice
dentistry who is a graduate of a foreign or nonaccredited dental
school who fails an examination required by the Texas State Board
of Dental Examiners three times to attend a two-year program before
being allowed to take the examination again.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Adds Section 2(c), Article 4545a, Revised Statutes, as
added by Chapter 2 (S.B. No. 18), Acts of the 74th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1995, to require an applicant for a license to
practice dentistry who fails the qualifying clinical examination
required by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (board) under
its rules three times, to attend a two-year program at a dental
school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the
American Dental Association. Requires the board to review the two-year programs offered to fulfill the requirements of this
subsection for educational sufficiency.

SECTION 2. Declares that any rule or regulation relating to the
procedures, fees, and requirements for licensing graduates of
foreign or nonaccredited dental schools to practice dentistry in
Texas adopted under Section 2, Article 4544, Revised Statutes,
which was not in effect on August 31, 1994, shall not be effective
until December 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. Effective date: Immediately, except Section 1 of this
Act, which would take         effect December 1, 1995.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

S.B. 378 was considered by the Public Health Committee in a formal
meeting on May 11, 1995. The bill was reported favorably without
amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed
and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a
record vote of 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 PNV, and 1 ABSENT.