1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the regulation of dentistry and the provision of dental
 1-3     services.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5                ARTICLE 1.  DENTAL SERVICES UNDER THE MEDICAL
 1-6                             ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 1-7           SECTION 1.01. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
 1-8     is amended by adding Section 32.053 to read as follows:
 1-9           Sec. 32.053.  DENTAL SERVICES. (a)  For purposes of this
1-10     section, the "dental necessity" for a dental service or product is
1-11     based on whether a prudent dentist, acting in accordance with
1-12     generally accepted practices of the professional dental community
1-13     and within the American Dental Association's Parameters of Care for
1-14     Dentistry and within the quality assurance criteria of the American
1-15     Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, as applicable, would provide the
1-16     service or product to a patient to diagnose, prevent, or treat
1-17     orofacial pain, infection, disease, dysfunction, or disfiguration.
1-18           (b)  A dental service or product may not be provided under
1-19     the medical assistance program unless there is a dental necessity
1-20     for the service or product.
1-21           (c)  In providing dental services under the medical
1-22     assistance program, the department shall:
1-23                 (1)  ensure that a stainless steel crown is not used as
1-24     a preventive measure;
 2-1                 (2)  require a dentist participating in the medical
 2-2     assistance program to document, through x-rays or other methods
 2-3     established by department rule, the dental necessity for a
 2-4     stainless steel crown before the crown is applied;
 2-5                 (3)  require a dentist participating in the medical
 2-6     assistance program to comply with a minimum standard of
 2-7     documentation and recordkeeping for each of the dentist's patients,
 2-8     regardless of whether the patient's costs are paid privately or
 2-9     through the medical assistance program;
2-10                 (4)  replace the 15-point system used for determining
2-11     the dental necessity for hospitalization and general anesthesia
2-12     with a more objective and comprehensive system developed by the
2-13     department; and
2-14                 (5)  take all necessary action to eliminate unlawful
2-15     acts described by Section 36.002 in the provision of dental
2-16     services under the medical assistance program, including:
2-17                       (A)  aggressively investigating and prosecuting
2-18     any dentist who abuses the system for reimbursement under the
2-19     medical assistance program; and
2-20                       (B)  conducting targeted audits of dentists whose
2-21     billing activities under the medical assistance program are
2-22     excessive or otherwise inconsistent with the billing activities of
2-23     other similarly situated dentists.
2-24           (d)  In setting reimbursement rates for dental services under
2-25     the medical assistance program, the department shall:
2-26                 (1)  reduce the amount of the hospitalization fee in
2-27     effect on December 1, 2000, and redistribute amounts made available
 3-1     through reduction of that fee to other commonly billed dental
 3-2     services for which adequate accountability measures exist;
 3-3                 (2)  eliminate the nutritional consultation fee and
 3-4     redistribute amounts made available through elimination of that fee
 3-5     to other commonly billed dental services for which adequate
 3-6     accountability measures exist;
 3-7                 (3)  provide for reimbursement of a behavior management
 3-8     fee only if:
 3-9                       (A)  the patient receiving dental treatment has
3-10     been previously diagnosed with mental retardation or a mental
3-11     disability or disorder, and extraordinary behavior management
3-12     techniques are necessary for therapeutic dental treatment because
3-13     of the patient's uncooperative behavior; and
3-14                       (B)  the dentist includes in the patient's
3-15     records and on the claim form for reimbursement a narrative
3-16     description of:
3-17                             (i)  the specific behavior problem
3-18     demonstrated by the patient that required the use of behavior
3-19     management techniques;
3-20                             (ii)  the dentist's initial efforts to
3-21     manage the patient's behavior through routine behavior management
3-22     techniques; and
3-23                             (iii)  the dentist's extraordinary behavior
3-24     management techniques subsequently required to manage the patient's
3-25     behavior; and
3-26                 (4)  redistribute amounts made available through
3-27     limitation of the behavior management fee under Subdivision (3) to
 4-1     other commonly billed dental services for which adequate
 4-2     accountability measures exist.
 4-3           (e)  The department shall develop the minimum standard
 4-4     described by Subsection (c)(3) in cooperation with the State Board
 4-5     of Dental Examiners.
 4-6           SECTION 1.02. If before implementing any provision of this
 4-7     article a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization
 4-8     from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that
 4-9     provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the
4-10     waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision
4-11     until the waiver or authorization is granted.
4-12                   ARTICLE 2.  REGULATION OF TELEDENTISTRY
4-13           SECTION 2.01. For purposes of this article, a licensed
4-14     dentist may delegate orally, in writing, or through advanced audio
4-15     and video telecommunications services a service, task, or procedure
4-16     to a dental hygienist who is under the supervision and
4-17     responsibility of the dentist, if:
4-18                 (1)  the dental hygienist is licensed to perform the
4-19     service, task, or procedure;
4-20                 (2)  the supervising dentist examines the patient
4-21     either in person or through advanced audio and video
4-22     telecommunications services:
4-23                       (A)  at the time the service, task, or procedure
4-24     is performed by the dental hygienist; or
4-25                       (B)  during the 12 calendar months preceding the
4-26     date of performance of the service, task, or procedure by the
4-27     dental hygienist; and
 5-1                 (3)  the dental hygienist does not:
 5-2                       (A)  diagnose a dental disease or ailment;
 5-3                       (B)  prescribe a treatment or a regimen;
 5-4                       (C)  prescribe, order, or dispense medication; or
 5-5                       (D)  perform any procedure that is irreversible
 5-6     or involves the intentional cutting of soft or hard tissue by any
 5-7     means.
 5-8           SECTION 2.02. (a)  In this section:
 5-9                 (1)  "Dental professional" means:
5-10                       (A)  a dentist licensed under Subtitle D, Title
5-11     3, Occupations Code; or
5-12                       (B)  a dental hygienist licensed under Chapter
5-13     262, Occupations Code, practicing under the supervision of a
5-14     dentist.
5-15                 (2)  "Student" means a person who is under 19 years of
5-16     age, is enrolled in a public school, and receives dental services
5-17     under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code.
5-18                 (3)  "Teledentistry dental services" means a dental
5-19     service that utilizes, in whole or in part, advanced
5-20     telecommunications technology including:
5-21                       (A)  compressed digital interactive video, audio,
5-22     or data transmission;
5-23                       (B)  clinical data transmission via computer
5-24     imaging for teleradiology or telepathology; and
5-25                       (C)  other technology that facilitates access in
5-26     rural and underserved counties to dental services or dental
5-27     specialty expertise.
 6-1           (b)  The commissioner of health and human services shall
 6-2     appoint a program administrator to administer a pilot program that
 6-3     uses teledentistry and other methods of delivering dental services
 6-4     to provide dental services to students in one public school
 6-5     district in the state.
 6-6           (c)  The program administrator shall establish an advisory
 6-7     committee to assist the program administrator in developing and
 6-8     implementing the pilot program.
 6-9           (d)  In developing the pilot program, the program
6-10     administrator shall design the program in a manner that:
6-11                 (1)  increases access to dental services and enhances
6-12     the delivery of dental services to students;
6-13                 (2)  ensures the provision of oral health education
6-14     services;
6-15                 (3)  provides for effective and appropriate supervision
6-16     by a dentist of other dental professionals providing care under the
6-17     program; and
6-18                 (4)  enables the state to determine whether extension
6-19     of the use of teledentistry would improve the delivery of dental
6-20     services.
6-21           (e)  The program administrator shall adopt procedures as
6-22     necessary to:
6-23                 (1)  ensure that appropriate care, including quality of
6-24     care, is provided to students who receive teledentistry dental
6-25     services;
6-26                 (2)  ensure adequate supervision of dental
6-27     professionals who are not dentists and who provide teledentistry
 7-1     dental services;
 7-2                 (3)  establish the maximum number of dental
 7-3     professionals who are not dentists that a dentist may supervise;
 7-4     and
 7-5                 (4)  require a face-to-face consultation with a dentist
 7-6     within a certain number of days following a teledentistry dental
 7-7     service.
 7-8           (f)  Only a teledentistry dental service initiated or
 7-9     provided by a licensed dentist in this state may be reimbursed
7-10     under the Medicaid program.  Medicaid reimbursement for a
7-11     teledentistry dental service shall be at the same rate as the
7-12     Medicaid program reimburses for a comparable in-person dental
7-13     service.  A request for reimbursement may not be denied solely
7-14     because an in-person consultation between a dentist or other dental
7-15     professional and a patient did not occur.  Reimbursement for a
7-16     dental hygienist for service shall be made through the supervising
7-17     dentist.
7-18           (g)  A dental hygienist must act under the remote supervision
7-19     of a local dentist.  Both the dentist and the hygienist must be
7-20     located within the boundaries of the school district served by the
7-21     pilot program.
7-22           (h)  Images and assessment information shall be sent by the
7-23     dental hygienist to a supervising dentist either live or by means
7-24     of store and forward technology.  After a dentist has reviewed the
7-25     required information, the dentist may authorize the provision of
7-26     preventive services by the dental hygienist located at the school.
7-27           (i)  A dental hygienist participating in the pilot program
 8-1     may initiate screening and assessment services and, under the
 8-2     supervision of a dentist, may perform any procedure the hygienist
 8-3     is authorized to perform under law.
 8-4           (j)  A teledentistry dental service may not be provided if an
 8-5     in-person consultation with a dentist is reasonably available to a
 8-6     student.  Dentists and other dental professionals participating in
 8-7     the pilot program shall make a good faith effort to identify and
 8-8     coordinate with existing providers to preserve and protect existing
 8-9     dental care systems and dental relationships.
8-10           (k)  The program administrator shall establish a control
8-11     group not to exceed 1,000 students to provide a benchmark for
8-12     measuring the performance of the pilot program.  Each student in
8-13     the control group shall be examined by a dentist, in person, at the
8-14     end of the program to evaluate the effectiveness of teledentistry
8-15     dental services provided during the program.  The examining dentist
8-16     must practice in a dental office located outside the boundaries of
8-17     the school district served by the pilot program.
8-18           (l)  The program administrator shall use the results of the
8-19     pilot program to:
8-20                 (1)  determine the efficacy of teledentistry; and
8-21                 (2)  determine the effectiveness of teledentistry in
8-22     increasing access to dental services and improving oral health of
8-23     students.
8-24           (m)  A dental professional who provides teledentistry dental
8-25     services shall ensure that the informed consent of the student or a
8-26     person authorized to provide consent for the student is obtained
8-27     before teledentistry dental services are provided.
 9-1           (n)  Students participating in the pilot program must be
 9-2     referred to local dentists for restorative care and monitored to
 9-3     ensure that restorative services are provided.
 9-4           (o)  Not later than December 31, 2002, the program
 9-5     administrator shall submit a report to the legislature containing
 9-6     the following:
 9-7                 (1)  the number of students who received teledentistry
 9-8     dental services;
 9-9                 (2)  the types of teledentistry dental services
9-10     provided;
9-11                 (3)  the cost and level of utilization of teledentistry
9-12     dental services;
9-13                 (4)  the effect of the pilot program on school
9-14     absenteeism of students in the control group;
9-15                 (5)  a description of improvements in the oral health
9-16     of students in the pilot program; and
9-17                 (6)  recommendations for changes in or the expansion of
9-18     the pilot program.
9-19           (p)  This article expires and the advisory committee is
9-20     abolished December 31, 2002.
9-21           SECTION 2.03. (a)  The commissioner of health and human
9-22     services shall appoint a program administrator for the
9-23     teledentistry pilot program not later than the 30th day after the
9-24     effective date of this article.
9-25           (b)  The program administrator shall appoint an advisory
9-26     committee and shall begin implementing the teledentistry pilot
9-27     program not later than the 30th day after the date the program
 10-1    administrator is appointed.
 10-2           ARTICLE 3.  ALTERNATIVE TRAINING OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS
 10-3          SECTION 3.01. Section 256.053, Occupations Code, is amended
 10-4    to read as follows:
 10-5          Sec. 256.053.  ELIGIBILITY FOR LICENSE. To qualify for a
 10-6    license, an applicant must be:
 10-7                (1)  at least 18 years of age;
 10-8                (2)  a graduate of an accredited high school or hold a
 10-9    certificate of high school equivalency; and
10-10                (3)  a graduate of a recognized school of dentistry or
10-11    dental hygiene accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation
10-12    of the American Dental Association and approved by the board or an
10-13    alternative dental hygiene training program.
10-14          SECTION 3.02. Subchapter B, Chapter 256, Occupations Code, is
10-15    amended by adding Section 256.0531 to read as follows:
10-16          Sec. 256.0531.  ALTERNATIVE DENTAL HYGIENE TRAINING PROGRAMS.
10-17    (a)  It is the intent of the legislature that programs approved by
10-18    the board under this section provide hygiene training that is
10-19    substantially equivalent to training provided under traditional
10-20    programs.
10-21          (b)  An alternative dental hygiene training program must meet
10-22    the following requirements:
10-23                (1)  the program must be determined to be eligible for
10-24    accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the
10-25    American Dental Association before students can enroll in the
10-26    program;
10-27                (2)  the program must require hygiene students to
 11-1    complete four semesters of didactic education from a school of
 11-2    dentistry, dental hygiene school, or other educational institution
 11-3    approved by the board;
 11-4                (3)  didactic education shall be provided by
 11-5    instruction in the classroom or by distance learning, remote
 11-6    coursework, or similar modes of instruction offered by an
 11-7    institution accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of
 11-8    the American Dental Association;
 11-9                (4)  didactic education shall include instruction in
11-10    anatomy, pharmacology, x-ray, ethics, jurisprudence, hygiene, and
11-11    any other subject regularly taught in reputable schools of
11-12    dentistry and dental hygiene that the board may require;
11-13                (5)  the program must require hygiene students to
11-14    complete not less than 1,000 hours of clinical training under the
11-15    direct supervision of a dentist qualified under Subsection (d) or a
11-16    dental hygienist qualified under Subsection (f) during a 12-month
11-17    period.  Students must satisfactorily complete 75 full-mouth
11-18    prophylaxes and demonstrate the ability to accurately record the
11-19    location and extent of dental restorations, chart mobility,
11-20    furcations, gingival recession, keratinized gingiva, and pocket
11-21    depth on six aspects of each tooth; and
11-22                (6)  clinical training may occur simultaneously with
11-23    didactic education.
11-24          (c)  Prior to commencing training, a hygiene student must
11-25    have completed no less than two years of full-time employment in a
11-26    position involving clinical duties with dental patients.
11-27          (d)  To be qualified to train a hygiene student under this
 12-1    section, a dentist must:
 12-2                (1)  be licensed in Texas and have practiced in Texas
 12-3    for at least five years;
 12-4                (2)  have completed a certification or calibration
 12-5    course approved by the board for purposes of this section;
 12-6                (3)  meet recertification requirements at intervals of
 12-7    no more than three years;
 12-8                (4)  also practice in a dental office located outside a
 12-9    standard metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the United
12-10    States Census Bureau, or practice in an area that the Texas
12-11    Department of Health has determined is underserved or an area that
12-12    has been designated by the United States as having a shortage of
12-13    dental professionals; and
12-14                (5)  have posted a notice visible to patients stating:
12-15    "This practice has been approved as an alternative dental hygiene
12-16    training program.  Students in the program may be performing
12-17    services."
12-18          (e)  A hygiene student who completes the requirements of a
12-19    program under this section must satisfactorily pass the examination
12-20    required for all hygiene license applicants under this chapter.
12-21          (f)  A dental hygienist may train hygiene students under this
12-22    section if:
12-23                (1)  the dental hygienist is employed by a dentist who
12-24    provides training under this section and the hygienist works under
12-25    the direct supervision of the dentist in the same office as the
12-26    dentist;
12-27                (2)  the dental hygienist has practiced full-time
 13-1    dental hygiene for the five years immediately preceding the time
 13-2    the training is provided; and
 13-3                (3)  the dental hygienist has completed a certification
 13-4    or calibration course approved by the board and meets
 13-5    recertification requirements at intervals of no more than five
 13-6    years.
 13-7          (g)  A dentist who supervises a dental hygienist trained
 13-8    under this section has the same liability for acts performed by the
 13-9    hygienist as if the hygienist were trained in a different manner.
13-10          (h)  The board shall adopt an alternative dental hygiene
13-11    training program no later than January 1, 2002.
13-12          (i)  The board shall appoint an advisory committee to advise
13-13    the board in developing the alternative dental hygiene training
13-14    program.  The advisory committee consists of the following members
13-15    appointed by the board:
13-16                (1)  two dental hygienists nominated by a statewide
13-17    association of dental hygienists;
13-18                (2)  two dentists nominated by a statewide association
13-19    of dentists;
13-20                (3)  two dental educators nominated by the State Board
13-21    of Dental Examiners; and
13-22                (4)  two dental hygienist educators nominated by the
13-23    Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee to the State Board of Dental
13-24    Examiners.
13-25          (j)  In developing the program, the advisory committee shall
13-26    consider the standards adopted by the Commission on Dental
13-27    Accreditation.
 14-1          (k)  A student in an alternative dental hygiene training
 14-2    program is not considered to be practicing dentistry as described
 14-3    by Section 251.003.
 14-4          (l)  The board shall adopt rules requiring the dentist to
 14-5    give written notice to patients, where applicable, that services
 14-6    will be performed by a student in an alternative dental hygiene
 14-7    training program, and requiring the dentist or the dentist's staff
 14-8    to give oral notice to patients, where applicable, at the time the
 14-9    patient's hygiene appointment is made or confirmed, that services
14-10    will be performed by a student in an alternative dental hygiene
14-11    training program.
14-12          (m)  The board may adopt rules necessary to implement this
14-13    section.  The board shall adopt a rule requiring notification to
14-14    dental hygiene students that accreditation of the alternative
14-15    dental hygiene training program is a requirement for obtaining a
14-16    license under this chapter.
14-17          SECTION 3.03.  The program, including the clinical training
14-18    component, must be accredited by the Commission on Dental
14-19    Accreditation by December 31, 2004, or the program  expires.
14-20          SECTION 3.04.  The board may not issue a license to a
14-21    graduate of an alternative training program under Section 256.0531,
14-22    Occupations Code, unless the program is accredited by the
14-23    Commission on Dental Accreditation.
14-24            ARTICLE 4.  DELEGATION OF CERTAIN ACTS BY DENTISTS
14-25          SECTION 4.01. Section 258.002, Occupations Code, is amended
14-26    by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
14-27    follows:
 15-1          (b)  A licensed dentist may delegate, under Subsection (a),
 15-2    the application of a pit and fissure sealant to a dental assistant
 15-3    if the dentist is a Medicaid provider.  Cleansing of the occlusal
 15-4    and smooth surfaces of the teeth by a dental assistant is allowed
 15-5    immediately prior to and for the sole purpose of preparing the
 15-6    tooth area for the placement of pit and fissure sealants or
 15-7    orthodontic bonding resin, and shall not be billed as a
 15-8    prophylaxis.
 15-9          (c)  The board by rule shall establish guidelines regarding
15-10    the types of dental acts that may be properly or safely delegated
15-11    by a dentist, including a determination of which delegated dental
15-12    acts, if any, require competency testing before a person may
15-13    perform the act.
15-14          SECTION 4.02. Subchapter D, Chapter 262, Occupations Code, is
15-15    amended by adding Section 262.1515 to read as follows:
15-16          Sec. 262.1515.  DELEGATION OF DUTIES TO DENTAL HYGIENIST
15-17    PRACTICING IN CERTAIN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND SCHOOL-BASED
15-18    HEALTH CENTERS. (a)  A licensed dentist may delegate a service,
15-19    task, or procedure, pursuant to this section, to a dental
15-20    hygienist, without complying with Section 262.151(a)(2) if:
15-21                (1)  the dental hygienist has at least two years'
15-22    experience in the practice of dental hygiene; and
15-23                (2)  the service, task, or procedure is performed in
15-24    one of the following locations:
15-25                      (A)  a nursing facility as defined in Section
15-26    242.301, Health and Safety Code; or
15-27                      (B)  a school-based health center established
 16-1    under Section 38.011, Education Code, as added by Chapter 1418,
 16-2    Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999.
 16-3          (b)  The patient must be referred to a licensed dentist after
 16-4    the completion of a service, task, or procedure performed under
 16-5    Subsection (a).
 16-6          (c)  A dental hygienist may not perform a second set of
 16-7    delegated tasks or procedures until the patient has been examined
 16-8    by a dentist in compliance with Section 262.151(a)(2).
 16-9          (d)  A dental hygienist may not perform any service, task, or
16-10    procedure under this section without the express authorization of a
16-11    dentist.
16-12          (e)  The nursing facility or school-based health center shall
16-13    note each delegated service, task, or procedure performed by the
16-14    dental hygienist under this section in the patient's medical
16-15    records.
16-16          SECTION 4.03. Section 265.003, Occupations Code, is amended
16-17    to read as follows:
16-18          Sec. 265.003.  PERMITTED DUTIES. (a)  A dental assistant who
16-19    is not professionally licensed may:
16-20                (1)  be employed by and work in the office of a
16-21    licensed and practicing dentist; and
16-22                (2)  perform one or more delegated dental acts under
16-23    the direct supervision, direction, and responsibility of the
16-24    dentist, including the application of a pit and fissure sealant.
16-25          (b)  A dental assistant may apply a pit and fissure sealant
16-26    under Subsection (a) only if:
16-27                (1)  the assistant is certified to apply a pit and
 17-1    fissure sealant under Section 265.004; and
 17-2                (2)  the dentist described by Subsection (a) is a
 17-3    Medicaid provider.
 17-4          SECTION 4.04. Chapter 265, Occupations Code, is amended by
 17-5    adding Section 265.004 to read as follows:
 17-6          Sec. 265.004.  PIT AND FISSURE SEALANT CERTIFICATE. (a)  The
 17-7    board shall issue a pit and fissure sealant certificate to a dental
 17-8    assistant who qualifies under this section.
 17-9          (b)  To qualify for a certificate, an applicant must:
17-10                (1)  have at least two years' experience as a dental
17-11    assistant; and
17-12                (2)  have successfully completed a minimum of 16 hours
17-13    of clinical and didactic education in pit and fissure sealants
17-14    taken through an accredited dental hygiene program approved by the
17-15    board.
17-16          (c)  The educational program under Subsection (b) must
17-17    include courses on:
17-18                (1)  infection control;
17-19                (2)  cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
17-20                (3)  treatment of medical emergencies;
17-21                (4)  microbiology;
17-22                (5)  chemistry;
17-23                (6)  dental anatomy;
17-24                (7)  ethics related to pit and fissure sealant
17-25    application;
17-26                (8)  jurisprudence related to pit and fissure sealant
17-27    application; and
 18-1                (9)  the correct application of sealants, including the
 18-2    actual clinical application of sealants.
 18-3          (d)  To maintain a certificate under this section, the dental
 18-4    assistant must complete at least six hours of continuing education
 18-5    in technical and scientific coursework each year.
 18-6          (e)  The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
 18-7    this section, including rules regarding renewal requirements for a
 18-8    certificate issued under this section.
 18-9          SECTION 4.05.  Not later than March 1, 2002, the State Board
18-10    of Dental Examiners shall adopt the rules required by Section
18-11    265.004, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
18-12                       ARTICLE 5.  TEMPORARY LICENSE
18-13          SECTION 5.01. Subchapter C, Chapter 256, Occupations Code, is
18-14    amended by adding Section 256.1015 to read as follows:
18-15          Sec. 256.1015.  TEMPORARY LICENSE. (a)  The board, upon
18-16    payment by the applicant of a fee set by the board, shall grant a
18-17    temporary license to practice dentistry to any reputable dentist or
18-18    a temporary license to practice dental hygiene to any reputable
18-19    dental hygienist who:
18-20                (1)  meets all requirements of Section 256.101 except
18-21    those of Subsection (a)(8); and
18-22                (2)  is employed by a nonprofit corporation that
18-23    accepts Medicaid reimbursement.
18-24          (b)  A license granted under this section expires immediately
18-25    when a licensee fails to meet the requirements of this section.
18-26                   ARTICLE 6.  REPAYMENT OF DENTAL LOANS
18-27          SECTION 6.01. Section 61.904(a), Education Code, is amended
 19-1    to read as follows:
 19-2          (a)  The board may provide repayment assistance for the
 19-3    repayment of any student loan for education at a public or private
 19-4    institution of higher education [in this state], including loans
 19-5    for undergraduate education, received by a dentist through any
 19-6    lender.
 19-7          SECTION 6.02. Section 61.903, Education Code, is repealed.
 19-8                        ARTICLE 7.  EFFECTIVE DATE
 19-9          SECTION 7.01. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3507 was passed by the House on May
         3, 2001, by a non-record vote; that the House refused to concur in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 3507 on May 24, 2001, and requested
         the appointment of a conference committee to consider the
         differences between the two houses; and that the House adopted the
         conference committee report on H.B. No. 3507 on May 27, 2001, by a
         non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3507 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 21, 2001, by a viva-voce vote; at the request of
         the House, the Senate appointed a conference committee to consider
         the differences between the two houses; and that the Senate adopted
         the conference committee report on H.B. No. 3507 on May 27, 2001,
         by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor