SRC-ARR S.B. 964 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 964
76R5949 GJH-FBy: Lucio
Health Services
4/4/1999
As Filed
DIGEST
Currently, Texas law provides for certain regulations for dentists and
dental hygienists. S.B.964 would amend those regulations.
PURPOSE
As proposed, S.B. 964 regulates dentists and dental hygienists.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Board of Dental Examiners in
SECTION 20 (Article 4551a(8) V.T.C.S.) and SECTION 26 (Section 5A(b),
Chapter 475 Article 4551e, V.T.C.S) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 3(a) and (b), Article 4543a, V.T.C.S., to
prohibit an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a Texas trade
association in the field of health care from being a member or employee of
the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (board) who is exempt from the
state's position classification plan or is compensated at or above the
amount prescribed by the General Appropriations Act for B9, rather than
step 1, salary group 17, of the position classification salary schedule.
Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 1, Article 4544, V.T.C.S., to require each person
applying for a license, rather than an examination, to pay to the board an
application fee set by the board. Requires the board to have the written
portion of the jurisprudence examination validated by an independent
testing professional.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 3, Article 4544, V.T.C.S., to provide that if the
board contracts with an independent or regional testing service, this
section does not apply. Requires the contract with the independent or
regional testing service to provide for notification of results as provided
by Subsection (a) of this section. Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 4, Article 4544, V.T.C.S., to make a conforming
change.
SECTION 5. Amends Section 5(b), Article 4544, V.T.C.S., to require the
board by rule to require a licensee to complete at least 12, rather than
36, hours of continuing education for, rather than in, each annual
registration period, rather than three year period, as a prerequisite to
renewal for a subsequent annual period, rather than maintain licensure.
SECTION 6. Amends Article 4545, V.T.C.S., to require each applicant for a
license to practice dentistry to present certain proof of graduation.
Deletes text requiring an applicant to present evidence of good moral
character.
SECTION 7. Amends Section 1(a), Article 4545a, V.T.C.S., to require the
State Board of Dental Examiners, upon payment by the applicant of a fee set
by the board, to grant a license to practice dentistry to any reputable
dentist or a license to practice dental hygiene to any reputable dental
hygienist. Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 8. Amends Article 4547a, V.T.C.S., to require the Texas State Board
of Dental Examiners to have power and authority to appoint such committees,
clerks, advisors, consultants, dentists, hygienists and/or examiners to aid
the board to carry out its duties as it deems necessary.
SECTION 9. Amends Article 4548d, V.T.C.S. as follows:
Art. 4548d. New heading: SHALL EXHIBIT ANNUAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE.
Requires any person authorized to practice dentistry or dental hygiene,
rather than surgery, in this state either under this or any former law of
Texas, to place the person's current registration certificate, rather than
license, on exhibition in each office where said dentist or dental
hygienist provides dental services. Authorizes the person, when a dentist
or dental hygienist provides dental services at more than one location,
display a duplicate of the original registration certificate obtained from
the for a duplicate certificate fee set by the board, rather than license
to be in plain view of patients. Prohibits a person from doing any
operation in the mouth of a patient, or treating any lesions of the mouth
or teeth, without having said registration certificate, rather than
license, so exhibited. Makes a conforming and nonsubstantive change.
SECTION 10. Amends Article 4548e, V.T.C.S., to require any advertisement by
a person, corporation, company, or association to include prominently the
name of at least one dentist practicing under such name, and if the
advertisement refers to one or more locations where dental services are
provided, it must include, for each location, the name of at least one
dentist who provides services at that location. Deletes text regarding
trade name. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 11. Amends Article 4548g, V.T.C.S., to provide that any
unprofessional conduct, as used herein, means and includes obtaining or
attempting to collect any fee by fraud or misrepresentation and soliciting
dental business by means of oral, rather than verbal, communication, in
person or otherwise, directed to an individual or group of less than five
individuals.
SECTION 12. Amends Article 4549, V.T.C.S., as follows:
Art. 4549. New heading: REFUSAL TO ISSUE LICENSE;
JUDICIAL SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION
Sec. 1. Requires the board to have authority to refuse to issue a license
by examination to a dental or dental hygiene applicant, rather than examine
any person to refuse to issue a dental license or a dental hygienist
license to any person, for certain causes.
Sec. 2. Requires the board to have certain jurisdiction and authority for
proof of conviction of the holder of a license or certificate of a
misdemeanor involving fraud or any felony under the laws of this state or
any other state or of the United States or is addicted to or is habitually
intemperate in the use of alcoholic beverages or drugs or has improperly
obtained, possessed, used, or distributed habit forming drugs or narcotics.
Deletes text regarding malpractice, gross incompetency, and habitual
intoxication. Makes conforming changes.
Sec. 3. Entitles the person to a hearing under Chapter 2001, Government
Code, if the board proposes to refuse to issue a license by examination to
a dental or dental hygiene applicant or to suspend or revoke a license, to
impose a fine, to place on probation a person whose license has been
suspended, or to reprimand a license holder. Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 13. Amends Article 4549-1.1, V.T.C.S.,to delete text regarding the
county in which a hearing conducted by the board may be held.
SECTION 14. Amends Article 4549-2, V.T.C.S.,to require the owning dentist
to furnish to a patient, on request, copies of the patient's dental records
in accordance with rules relating to patient records adopted by the board.
SECTION 15. Amends Article 4550, V.T.C.S., as follows:
Art. 4550. RECORDS OF THE BOARD
Sec. 1. Requires the board to keep records in which shall be registered the
name and permanent address, rather than residence, and place of business of
all persons authorized under this law to practice dentistry, dental
hygiene, and such other professions or businesses under its jurisdiction as
provided by law. Requires ceratin persons in the dental profession
registered with the board to timely notify the board in writing of certain
actions.
Sec. 2. Provides that it is not a violation of this section for the board
to share investigation files and records with another state regulatory
agency or a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency.
SECTION 16. Amends Section 1, Article 4550a, V.T.C.S., to require persons
holding a dental license or dental hygienist license issued by the board to
annually apply and to be registered as such practitioners with the board on
or before the expiration date of the license, rather than March 1st of each
calendar year. Requires a person holding a dental or dental hygienist
license to attach to the application proof that the applicant has
successfully completed a current course, rather than current certification
in CPR given or approved by the American Heart Association or American Red
Cross. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 17. Amends Sections 2(c), (d), (e), and (h), Article 4550a,
V.T.C.S., to authorize the person to renew the persons license or
certificate by paying to the board the required renewal fee and a fee that
is one-half of the application, rather than examination fee for the license
or certificate. Deletes text regarding Section 2A of this article. Deletes
text regarding prorating license fees.
SECTION 18. Amends Section 4(i), Article 4550a, V.T.C.S., to require the
board to develop and implement policies that provide the public with a
reasonable opportunity to appear before the board and to speak on any issue
under the jurisdiction of the board, except to the extent that
communication would be ex parte under any provision of law.
SECTION 19. Amends Subsection (a), Article 4550c, V.T.C.S., to make a
conforming change.
SECTION 20. Amends Article 4551a, V.T.C.S., to require any person to be
regarded as practicing dentistry within the meaning of this chapter who
owns or manages a dental practice. Requires rules adopted by the board
addressing the prohibitions in this section to prohibit a person who is not
a dentist from directly or indirectly influencing or interfering with the
exercise of a dentist's independent professional judgment.
SECTION 21. Amends Article 4551b, V.T.C.S., to prohibit the definition of
dentistry, as contained in Title 71, Chapter 9, V.T.C.S. from applying to
certain dental health professionals and dental students.
SECTION 22. Amends Section 2, Chapter 475, Article 4551e, V.T.C.S., to
require each applicant for a license to practice dental hygiene in this
state, rather than hygienist, to be of good moral character. Makes
conforming changes.
SECTION 23. Amends Section 3(b), Chapter 475, Article 4551e, V.T.C.S., to
require all work performed by a dental hygienist in the practice of dental
hygiene, as defined in this Act to be performed in the dental office of the
supervising dentist or dentists who are legally engaged in the practice of
dentistry in this state, a school, a hospital, a state institution, a
public health clinic, or another institution. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 24. Amends Section 4A(d), Chapter 475, Article 4551e, V.T.C.S., to
authorize a member of advisory committee to receive, rather than is
entitled to, reimbursement for travel, rather than transportation,
expenses, including expenses for meals and lodging. Deletes text regarding
the General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 25. Amends Section 5, Chapter 475, Article 4551e, V.T.C.S., to
require all applicants for licensure, rather than examination, to pay an
application fee set by the board to said board as determined by the board
according to its needs. Requires the contract with the independent or
regional testing services to provide for notification of results, if the
board contracts with an independent or regional testing service.
SECTION 26. Amends Section 5A(b), Chapter 475, Article 4551e, V.T.C.S. to
require the board, by rule, to require a license to complete at least 12,
rather than 36, hours of continuing education for each annual registration,
rather than three year, period as prerequisite to renewal for a subsequent
annual period. Make a conforming change.
SECTION 27. Amends Subsections 6(c), and (d), Article 4551f, V.T.C.S., to
authorize the owner or manager of a dental laboratory to renew the
certificate by paying to the board all unpaid renewal fees and a fee equal
to the amount of the initial fee registration fee. Provides that the owner
of a dental laboratory registered with the board on September 1, 1987 is
not required to submit proof that the laboratory has at least one certified
dental technician employed by and working on the premises of the laboratory
if the registration of the laboratory has been renewed each year, rather
than continuous since that date and all registration fees have been paid.
Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 28. Amends Article 4551j, V.T.C.S., to provide that no members of
the board, its parttime employees, or persons who contract with the board
shall be liable or subject to certain suits.
SECTION 29. Repealer: Section 2, Article 4544, V.T.C.S. (Foreign
Nonaccredited Dental School Graduates); Section 2, Article 4544a, V.T.C.S.
(regarding radiological procedures and techniques).
SECTION 30. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 31.Effective date: September 1, 1999.
SECTION 32. Emergency clause.