BG H.B. 2930 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS PUBLIC HEALTH H.B. 2930 By: Coleman 4-17-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Dentists and dental hygienists perform functions essential to good oral health but potentially dangerous without appropriate education. Both the State Board of Dental Examiners (SBDE) and the American Dental Association (ADA) recognize the necessity of dental and dental hygiene program accreditation in their Strategic Plans. The Texas Dental Practice Act uses various vague and antiquated terms like "reputable" and "recognized" in addition to "accredited" to describe acceptable programs, and does not specify the necessity of both the program and the school possessing their respective accreditations. PURPOSE HB 2930 updates the Dental Practice Act by defining the various terms used to describe approved dental and dental hygiene programs as programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and located in a regionally accredited institution of higher education. 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 4545, Revised Statutes, as follows: Subsection (a) clarifies the language concerning proof of graduation from a reputable college to be a college that requires for the awarding of a degree in dentistry the equivalent of at least four terms that are at least eight months long. Omits a former definition of what was considered to be a "reputable" dental college. Subsection (b) is added to provide that for the purposes of this Act, a "reputable dental college or school", "accredited" or "recognized and accredited" dental school or college means a program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, or its successor accrediting agency, as specified. SECTION 2. Amends Section 2, Chapter 475, Acts of the 52nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1951 (Article 4551e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) by making conforming changes to add Subsection (b) which provides in the same language as was stated in the revision above, that for purposes of this Act, a "reputable dental college or school", "accredited" or "recognized and accredited" dental school or college means a program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, or its successor accrediting agency, as specified. SECTION 3. Emergency Clause. Establishes that this Act takes effect upon passage.