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.