1-1 By: Berlanga (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 2255
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 1997;
1-3 May 9, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
1-4 and Human Services; May 14, 1997, reported favorably by the
1-5 following vote: Yeas 10, Nays 0; May 14, 1997, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to the licensing of certain dentists and dental
1-9 hygienists.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 2(a), Article 4545a, Revised Statutes,
1-12 is amended to read as follows:
1-13 (a) The Board, upon payment by the applicant of a fee set by
1-14 the Board, shall grant a license to a dentist or dental hygienist
1-15 who has [not] graduated from a foreign dental or dental hygiene
1-16 school that is recognized by the government of the country in which
1-17 the school is located as providing appropriate educational
1-18 preparation for the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene in that
1-19 country [accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of
1-20 the American Dental Association] if:
1-21 (1) the dentist or dental hygienist has practiced for
1-22 a minimum of five years immediately prior to applying;
1-23 (2) the dentist or dental hygienist has not been the
1-24 subject of final or pending disciplinary action in any jurisdiction
1-25 in which the dentist or dental hygienist is or has been licensed;
1-26 (3) the Board, through a procedure adopted by rule,
1-27 determines [has determined] that the program the applicant attended
1-28 is the educational [qualifications are] equivalent of a dental or
1-29 a dental hygienist program accredited by the Commission on Dental
1-30 Accreditation of the American Dental Association [to those required
1-31 to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in the state]; and
1-32 (4) the dentist or dental hygienist has completed all
1-33 examinations required by the Board for licensure.
1-34 SECTION 2. Article 4545a, Revised Statutes, is amended by
1-35 adding Section 3 to read as follows:
1-36 Sec. 3. (a) The Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee shall
1-37 assist the Board in determining educational equivalency under
1-38 Section 2(a) of this article.
1-39 (b) The advisory committee shall review transcripts, course
1-40 descriptions, and other material considered necessary by the Board
1-41 to determine educational equivalency.
1-42 (c) A member of the advisory committee is not liable in a
1-43 civil action for any act performed in good faith in the execution
1-44 of that member's duty as a committee member.
1-45 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
1-46 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-47 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-48 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-49 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-50 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-51 * * * * *