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.