By Harris                                              H.B. No. 856
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the scope of practice of a dentist performing oral and
    1-3  maxillofacial surgery.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Chapter 9, Title 71, Revised Statutes, is amended
    1-6  by adding Article 4548b to read as follows:
    1-7        Art. 4548b.  ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY.  The dental
    1-8  specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery includes the diagnosis
    1-9  of and the surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries,
   1-10  and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of
   1-11  the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.
   1-12  Nothing in this article is intended to expand the scope of practice
   1-13  of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
   1-14        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-15  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-16  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-17  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-18  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-19  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-20  passage, and it is so enacted.