BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 643
80R290 JMM-D By: Hughes, Branch (Nelson)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (board) can renew an expired license, provided that the license has been expired for less than one year. In cases in which a dentist allows his or her license to lapse for longer than one year, he or she must start the license process as if applying for a license for the first time. Some retired dentists who wish to do charity work in their communities have inadvertently allowed their licenses to expire for longer than a year and are unable to provide charity care.
H.B. 643 allows the board to renew the license of a dentist who fails to renew his license for a year or more provided that the dentist places his renewed license on retired status and confines his practice to charity care.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 257.002, Occupations Code, by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-2), as follows:
(d) Creates an exception provided by Subsection (d-1) or (d-2) to the provision prohibiting a person from renewing a dental license that has been expired for one year or more.
(d-2) Authorizes the State Board of Dental Examiners (board) to renew the license of a person whose license has been expired for one year or more without requiring the person to comply with the requirements and procedures for an original license if the person places the person's renewed license on retired status and confines the person's practice solely to voluntary charity care under Section 256.102(f) (relating the board's rules regarding the scope and practice permitted for a retired dentist, the authority to prescribe and administer drugs, and any continuing education requirements).
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.