SRC-TNM S.B. 1347 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1347
By: Madla
Health & Human Services
4-18-97
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST 

Currently, a significant number of children in need of dental 
treatment are not being served. 
Although 75 percent of pediatric dentists are Medicaid providers 
and 15 percent of general dentists 
are Medicaid providers as well as an increasing number of dental 
hygienists, there remains an 
insufficient number of  Medicaid providers to meet this need.  
The Texas Department of Health's 
primary goal is to provide as many Medicaid children with tooth 
sealants as possible.  S.B. 1347 
would permit dental assistants with two years' experience and 
with proper training and certification 
by the Texas Board of Dental Examiners  to perform the function 
of polishing and the application 
of sealants.
     
PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1347 outlines provisions regarding certain 
permitted duties of dental assistants.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a 
state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 15, Chapter 475, Acts of the 52nd 
Legislature, 1951, Article 4551e, 
V.T.C.S., to prohibit the provisions of this Act from applying to 
employees of a dentist who make 
dental x-rays or who polish the coronal surfaces of exposed human 
teeth in the dental office and 
under the supervision of such dentist or dentists legally engaged 
in the practice of dentistry in this 
state.

SECTION 2. Amends Article 4551e-1, V.T.C.S., by amending 
Subsection (b) and adding 
Subsection (h), to delete text prohibiting a dentist from 
delegating root planning or the smoothing 
and polishing of roughened root surfaces or exposed human teeth 
to a person not licensed as a dentist 
or dental hygienist.  Authorizes a person licensed to practice 
dentistry to delegate to a dental assistant 
with two years' experience who has completed training and 
certification prescribed by the Texas 
Board of Dental Examiners the act of application of pit and 
fissure sealants under the supervision, 
direction, and responsibility of the delegating dentist.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amendment 1.

Page 1, line 3, adds a new SECTION 1 and renumbers existing