1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the licensing of certain dentists and dental

 1-3     hygienists.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 2(a), Article 4545a, Revised  Statutes,

 1-6     is amended to read as follows:

 1-7           (a)  The Board, upon payment by the applicant of a fee set by

 1-8     the Board, shall grant a license to a dentist or dental hygienist

 1-9     who has [not] graduated from a foreign dental or dental hygiene

1-10     school that is recognized by the government of the country in which

1-11     the school is located as providing appropriate educational

1-12     preparation for the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene in that

1-13     country [accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of

1-14     the American Dental Association] if:

1-15                 (1)  the dentist or dental hygienist has practiced for

1-16     a minimum of five years immediately prior to applying;

1-17                 (2)  the dentist or dental hygienist has not been the

1-18     subject of final or pending disciplinary action in any jurisdiction

1-19     in which the dentist or dental hygienist is or has been licensed;

1-20                 (3)  the Board, through a procedure adopted by rule,

1-21     determines [has determined] that the program the applicant attended

1-22     is the  educational [qualifications are] equivalent of a dental or

1-23     a dental hygienist program accredited by the Commission on Dental

1-24     Accreditation of the American Dental Association [to those required

 2-1     to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in the state]; and

 2-2                 (4)  the dentist or dental hygienist has completed all

 2-3     examinations required by the Board for licensure.

 2-4           SECTION 2.  Article 4545a, Revised Statutes, is amended by

 2-5     adding Section 3 to read as follows:

 2-6           Sec. 3.   (a)  The Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee shall

 2-7     assist the Board in determining educational equivalency under

 2-8     Section 2(a) of this article.

 2-9           (b)  The advisory committee shall review transcripts, course

2-10     descriptions, and other material considered necessary by the Board

2-11     to determine educational equivalency.

2-12           (c)  A member of the advisory committee is not liable in a

2-13     civil action for any act performed in good faith in the execution

2-14     of that member's duty as a committee member.

2-15           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-16           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2255 was passed by the House on May

         7, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2255 was passed by the Senate on May

         21, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor