By Coleman                                      H.B. No. 2931

      75R7672 GJH-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the performance of certain dental procedures by dental

 1-3     hygienists.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 475, Acts of the 52nd Legislature,

 1-6     Regular Session, 1951 (Article 4551e, Vernon's Texas Civil

 1-7     Statutes), is amended by amending Section 1 and by adding Section

 1-8     3A to read as follows:

 1-9           Sec. 1.  DEFINITIONS.  The term "dental hygiene," and the

1-10     practice thereof as used in this Act shall mean and is hereby

1-11     defined as (a) the removal of accumulated matter, tartar, deposits,

1-12     accretions or stains, except mottled enamel stains, from the

1-13     natural and restored surfaces of exposed human teeth, and

1-14     restorations therefor in the human mouth, the smoothing of the

1-15     roughened root surfaces, and the polishing of said surfaces;  (b)

1-16     the making of topical application of drugs or pit and fissure

1-17     sealants to the surface tissues of the human mouth and to the

1-18     exposed surface of  human teeth, including the subgingival

1-19     placement of material containing medicaments; (c) the making of

1-20     Dental X-rays; and (d) such other services and procedures as may be

1-21     prescribed by the Texas State Board of  Dental Examiners in its

1-22     Rules and Regulations;  provided, however, that such services,

1-23     tasks, or procedures defined as dental hygiene are performed in

1-24     compliance with Section 3 of this Act [Article].

 2-1           The term "dental hygienist," as used in this Act shall mean

 2-2     and is hereby defined as a person who practices "dental hygiene,"

 2-3     who possesses the qualifications prescribed by the laws of this

 2-4     State, and who possesses a valid license and current receipt by the

 2-5     Texas State Board of Dental Examiners to so practice.

 2-6           Sec. 3A.  EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.  The Board may establish

 2-7     additional education requirements for the application of pit and

 2-8     fissure sealants or the placement of subgingival materials

 2-9     containing medicaments.

2-10           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-11           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-12     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-13     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-14     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-15     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.