BG H.B. 2255 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


PUBLIC HEALTH
H.B. 2255
By: Berlanga
4-25-97
Committee Report (Amended)


BACKGROUND 

An exception to the principle that all dental and dental hygiene 
education programs should be 
accredited was included for foreign program graduates in SB 18 
(the Dental Practice Act Sunset 
legislation) last session.  This was necessary because foreign 
programs do not have the 
opportunity to be accredited by the Commission on Dental 
Accreditation of the American Dental 
Association.  Some people now argue that the wording in SB 18 
inadvertently requires licensure 
of graduates of domestic unaccredited programs.

PURPOSE

HB 2255 amends the Dental Practice Act by clarifying the 
reference to foreign non-accredited 
programs and enabling more careful review of the equivalency of 
such programs to accredited 
programs.

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 Sec. 2(a), Article 4545a, Revised Statutes, by 
inserting a reference to 
foreign schools, replacing language requiring that the school 
must be recognized by the foreign 
government as appropriate preparation for the practice of 
dentistry or dental hygiene in that 
country, and omitting within that paragraph the phrase 
"accredited by the Commission on Dental 
Accreditation of the America Dental Association." Adds language 
to the conditional section, that 
if it is "determined" that "the program the applicant attended is 
the "educational equivalent" of a 
dental or dental hygienist program accredited be the Commission 
as specified, a license shall be 
granted. 

SECTION 2. Amends Article 4545a, Revised Statutes, by adding 
Section 3 as follows:

Sec. 3.  Requires the State Board of Dental Examiners (board) to 
appoint an advisory 
committee consisting of dental hygiene program directors, as 
specified, to assist the board 
in determining the equivalency of foreign dental hygiene programs 
as specified. Requires 
the advisory committee to review transcripts and other materials 
considered necessary by 
the board. Establishes that a member of the advisory committee 
has no civil liability for 
the performance of good faith actions of their duties. 
Establishes that members are not 
entitled to be compensated for their service. Establishes that 
the advisory committee is 
not subject to Article 6252-33, Revised Statutes. 

SECTION 3. Effective date of this Act is September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. Emergency Clause.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

After dialogue with the dentists, agreement was reached to amend 
SECTION 2 by removing the
requirement that the State Board of Dental Examiners appoint 
another advisory committee. 
Instead the existing Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee shall 
assist the board in determining 
educational equivalency as specified. Subsections (d) and (e) are 
no longer necessary as no new