By Berlanga H.B. No. 2255
75R7189 GJH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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 Board shall appoint an advisory committee
2-7 on foreign-trained dental hygienists to assist the Board in
2-8 determining educational equivalency under Section 2(a) of this
2-9 article. The committee shall be composed of at least three but not
2-10 more than five directors of accredited dental hygiene programs in
2-11 this state.
2-12 (b) The advisory committee shall review transcripts, course
2-13 descriptions, and other material considered necessary by the Board
2-14 to determine educational equivalency.
2-15 (c) A member of the advisory committee is not liable in a
2-16 civil action for any act performed in good faith in the execution
2-17 of that member's duty as a committee member.
2-18 (d) A member of the advisory committee is not entitled to
2-19 compensation for service on the committee.
2-20 (e) The advisory committee is not subject to Article
2-21 6252-33, Revised Statutes.
2-22 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-23 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-25 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-26 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-27 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
3-1 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
3-2 Amend Section 2 of House Bill 2255 beginning on page 2, line
3-3 4 by striking all of the existing language and substituting the
3-4 following:
3-5 SECTION 2. Article 4545a, Revised Statutes, is amended by
3-6 adding Section 3 to read as follows:
3-7 Sec. 3. (a) The Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee shall
3-8 assist the Board in determining educational equivalency under
3-9 Section 2(a) of this article.
3-10 (b) The advisory committee shall review transcripts, course
3-11 descriptions, and other material considered necessary by the Board
3-12 to determine educational equivalency.
3-13 (c) A member of the advisory committee is not liable in a
3-14 civil action for any act performed in good faith in the execution
3-15 of that member's duty as a committee member.
3-16 Berlanga