1-1     By:  Solis, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Lucio)           H.B. No. 2614
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2001;
 1-3     May 7, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Business
 1-4     and Commerce; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following
 1-5     vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to a dental services pilot program in border-region
 1-9     counties.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  (a)  The Texas Department of Health shall develop
1-12     and implement a dental care pilot program to provide dental
1-13     services to indigent children who are residents of this state in
1-14     border-region counties selected by the department.
1-15           (b)  The Texas Department of Health shall implement the pilot
1-16     program to:
1-17                 (1)  improve the dental health of indigent children in
1-18     the selected counties; and
1-19                 (2)  ensure certain children in selected counties
1-20     receive dental services.
1-21           (c)  The Texas Board of Health shall establish eligibility
1-22     criteria for the pilot program.  The criteria must require that
1-23     program participants:
1-24                 (1)  live within the identified region;
1-25                 (2)  have a family income at or below 185 percent of
1-26     the federal poverty level; and
1-27                 (3)  provide a parent's or guardian's written consent
1-28     to receipt of dental service.
1-29           (d)  The department shall determine the dental services to be
1-30     provided to program participants, which may include:
1-31                 (1)  screening for various dental conditions; and
1-32                 (2)  filling cavities, cleaning teeth, and other dental
1-33     services.
1-34           (e)  In designing and implementing the program, the Texas
1-35     Department of Health shall ensure that:
1-36                 (1)  a program participant receives, at no cost to the
1-37     participant, dental services provided through the pilot program;
1-38     and
1-39                 (2)  the quality of dental services provided to a
1-40     program participant is frequently monitored and evaluated.
1-41           (f)  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this
1-42     Act, the Texas Board of Health shall establish eligibility criteria
1-43     as required by Subsection (c) of this section and shall establish
1-44     any other procedures or requirements necessary to implement this
1-45     Act.  The requirements of Chapter 2001, Government Code, relating
1-46     to rulemaking do not apply to an action of the board under this
1-47     subsection.
1-48           (g)  Not later than December 1, 2002, the Texas Department of
1-49     Health shall submit a report to the legislature regarding the
1-50     program that includes:
1-51                 (1)  an analysis of:
1-52                       (A)  the program's cost-effectiveness; and
1-53                       (B)  the program's effect on the quality of
1-54     dental care received by program participants; and
1-55                 (2)  recommendations regarding elimination,
1-56     continuation, or expansion of the program.
1-57           (h)  This section expires September 1, 2003.
1-58           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
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