By Coleman H.B. No. 2930
75R6171 GJH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to certain qualifications to practice dentistry and dental
1-3 hygiene.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Article 4545, Revised Statutes, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Art. 4545. QUALIFICATIONS OF APPLICANTS. (a) Each
1-8 applicant for a license to practice dentistry in this state shall
1-9 be not less than twenty-one (21) years of age and shall present:
1-10 (1) proof of graduation from a reputable dental
1-11 college that requires for the awarding of a degree in dentistry the
1-12 equivalent of at least four terms that are at least eight months in
1-13 length; and
1-14 (2) evidence of good moral character. [A dental
1-15 college shall be held reputable whose entrance requirements and
1-16 course of instruction are as high as those adopted by the better
1-17 class of dental colleges of the United States, and whose course of
1-18 instruction shall be the equivalent of not less than four (4) terms
1-19 of eight (8) months each.]
1-20 (b) For purposes of this Act, a "reputable dental college or
1-21 school," "dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental
1-22 Accreditation of the American Dental Association," or "recognized
1-23 and accredited school or college of dentistry," means a dental
1-24 program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the
2-1 American Dental Association, or its successor accrediting agency
2-2 recognized by the United States Department of Education, that is
2-3 offered by an institution of higher education that is accredited by
2-4 a recognized accrediting agency as defined by Section 61.003,
2-5 Education Code.
2-6 SECTION 2. Section 2, Chapter 475, Acts of the 52nd
2-7 Legislature, Regular Session, 1951 (Article 4551e, Vernon's Texas
2-8 Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
2-9 Sec. 2. QUALIFICATIONS. (a) A dental hygienist shall be
2-10 not less than eighteen (18) years of age and a graduate of an
2-11 accredited high school or hold a certificate of high school
2-12 equivalency (GED) and be a graduate of a recognized and accredited
2-13 school or college of dentistry or dental hygiene approved by the
2-14 Texas State Board of Dental Examiners in which the course of
2-15 instruction shall be the equivalent of not less than two (2) terms
2-16 of eight (8) months each and who shall have thereafter passed an
2-17 examination given by and before the Texas State Board of Dental
2-18 Examiners on subjects pertaining to dental hygiene, and who shall
2-19 have complied with all of the provisions of this Act and the rules
2-20 and regulations promulgated by the Texas State Board of Dental
2-21 Examiners.
2-22 (b) For purposes of this Act, a "reputable dental hygiene
2-23 college or school," "dental hygiene school accredited by the
2-24 Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental
2-25 Association," or "recognized and accredited school or college of
2-26 dental hygiene" means a dental hygiene program accredited by the
2-27 Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental
3-1 Association, or its successor accrediting agency recognized by the
3-2 United States Department of Education, that is offered by an
3-3 institution of higher education that is accredited by a recognized
3-4 accrediting agency as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
3-5 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-10 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-11 passage, and it is so enacted.