BG C.S.H.B. 179 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


PUBLIC HEALTH
C.S.H.B. 179
By: Maxey
4-9-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND 

The 74th Legislature passed the Dental Practice Act which limited the
operation of non-profit dental clinics to migrant, community or homeless
health centers.  There are, however, a number of non-profit AIDS dental
clinics operating in Texas that do not fall within the Act's parameters
and are thus not in compliance with the law.  These clinics were
established over the last decade to serve a population that has often been
unable to obtain care at private dental clinics.  They continue to
primarily serve individuals with HIV infection and their family members. 

PURPOSE

CSHB 179 authorizes the Board of Dental Examiners to approve the operation
of non-profit dental clinics providing services primarily to individuals
with HIV or AIDS. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 4551n, Texas Revised Civil Statutes, as follows:

Subsection (a)(2)(A) makes a conforming change.

Subsection (a)(2)(B) adds a dental clinic that provides services primarily
to patients with AIDS or HIV to the list of non-profit corporations which
must be approved and certified by the Board of Dental Examiners and
inserts the word "or" to segue the new Subsection (a)(2)(C).  

Subsection (a)(2)(C) also adds to the list of non-profit corporations. It
adds "a clinic otherwise approved by the Board of Dental Examiners as a
clinic that provides services to under served populations for no fee or a
reduced fee."  

Subsection (b) is amended to replace a reference to "(a)" with "(a)(2)(A),
(B), or (C)".   

SECTION 2.  Effective date is September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

CSHB 179 adds to the original bill by inserting Subsection (a)(2)(C) in
SECTION 1 to expand the list of non-profit corporations needing approval
and certification by the Board of Dental Examiners. Other changes made are
to conform to this addition.