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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of a dental hygienist to provide services |
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in certain facilities and schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 262.1515(a) and (c), Occupations Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A licensed dentist may delegate a service, task, or |
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procedure, pursuant to this section, to a dental hygienist, without |
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complying with Section 262.151(a)(2) if: |
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(1) the dental hygienist has at least two years' |
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experience in the practice of dental hygiene; and |
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(2) the service, task, or procedure is performed in |
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one of the following locations: |
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(A) a nursing facility as defined in Section |
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242.301, Health and Safety Code; |
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(B) a school-based health center established |
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under Subchapter B, Chapter 38, Education Code; [or] |
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(C) a community health center as defined by |
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Section 136.002, Human Resources Code; or |
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(D) a public or private school or preschool, |
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including a facility in which a government-funded early child-care |
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and education program is provided. |
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(c) A dental hygienist may only perform delegated tasks or |
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procedures with respect to a patient for 12 [six] months unless the |
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patient has been examined by a dentist in compliance with Section |
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262.151(a)(2). |
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SECTION 2. Section 262.152, Occupations Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 262.152. PERFORMANCE OF DELEGATED DUTIES. Except as |
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provided by Section 262.1515, a dental hygienist shall practice |
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dental hygiene: |
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(1) in the dental office of a supervising dentist |
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licensed by the board; or |
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(2) in an alternate setting, including a nursing home, |
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the patient's home, a school, a preschool, a hospital, a state |
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institution, a public health clinic, or another institution, under |
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the supervision of a supervising dentist. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |