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79R2232 UM-D

By:  Lucio                                                        S.B. No. 814



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a dental services pilot program in border-region 
counties.      
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  (a)  The Department of State Health Services 
shall develop and implement a dental care pilot program to provide 
dental services to indigent children who are residents of this 
state in border-region counties selected by the department.
	(b)  The Department of State Health Services shall implement 
the pilot program to:
		(1)  improve the dental health of indigent children in 
the selected counties; and
		(2)  ensure certain children in selected counties 
receive dental services.  
	(c)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human 
Services Commission shall establish eligibility criteria for the 
pilot program.  The criteria must require that program 
participants:
		(1)  live within the identified region;                                       
		(2)  have a family income at or below 185 percent of the 
federal poverty level; and
		(3)  provide a parent's or guardian's written consent 
to receipt of dental services.
	(d)  The Department of State Health Services shall determine 
the dental services to be provided to program participants, which 
may include:
		(1)  screening for various dental conditions; and                             
		(2)  filling cavities, cleaning teeth, and other dental 
services.           
	(e)  In designing and implementing the program, the 
Department of State Health Services shall ensure that:
		(1)  a program participant receives, at no cost to the 
participant, dental services provided through the pilot program; 
and
		(2)  the quality of dental services provided to a 
program participant is frequently monitored and evaluated.
	(f)  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this 
Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services 
Commission shall establish eligibility criteria as required by 
Subsection (c) of this section and shall establish any other 
procedures or requirements necessary to implement this Act.  The 
requirements of Chapter 2001, Government Code, relating to 
rulemaking do not apply to an action of the executive commissioner 
under this subsection.
	(g)  Not later than December 1, 2006, the Department of State 
Health Services shall submit a report to the legislature regarding 
the program that includes:
		(1)  an analysis of:                                                          
			(A)  the program's cost-effectiveness; and                                   
			(B)  the program's effect on the quality of dental 
care received by program participants; and
		(2)  recommendations regarding elimination, 
continuation, or expansion of the program.
	(h)  This section expires September 1, 2007.                                   
	SECTION 2.   This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.