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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the adoption of a training manual and code of conduct |
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for members of the State Board of Dental Examiners. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 252.010, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The board shall adopt a training manual for board |
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members. The executive director shall provide the manual to each |
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board member each year and to each person appointed to the board |
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during the training program under Subsection (a). The manual must |
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include, at a minimum: |
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(1) the scope of and limitations on the rulemaking |
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authority of the board; |
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(2) the distinction between the board's rulemaking |
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authority and the authority of the legislature; and |
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(3) board rules and other applicable state laws. |
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(b-2) A member of the board shall submit to the executive |
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director annually a statement affirming receipt of the member |
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training manual. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 252, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 252.012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 252.012. CODE OF CONDUCT. (a) The board by rule shall |
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adopt a code of conduct applicable to each member of the board. |
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(b) At a minimum, the code of conduct must specify: |
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(1) the ethical considerations involved in |
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communications between the board and persons required to register |
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as lobbyists under Chapter 305, Government Code; |
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(2) the procedures by which a member of the board shall |
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disclose a conflict of interest; and |
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(3) the importance of transparency and |
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professionalism during regularly scheduled board meetings and in |
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interactions with the public. |
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(c) The executive director shall provide the code of conduct |
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to each board member each year. A member of the board shall submit |
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to the executive director annually a statement affirming: |
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(1) receipt of the code of conduct; and |
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(2) adherence to the code of conduct in the |
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performance of the member's duties. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2015, the State Board |
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of Dental Examiners shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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Section 252.012, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. Not later than June 1, 2016, the State Board of |
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Dental Examiners shall adopt the training manual under Section |
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252.010(b-1), Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. Not later than December 1, 2016, the state |
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auditor shall conduct a review to assess whether the State Board of |
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Dental Examiners has exceeded its statutory authority and whether |
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the board is in compliance with this Act. The state auditor shall |
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make available on the auditor's Internet website a report on the |
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auditor's findings from the review conducted under this section and |
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report the results of the review to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chair of |
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the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and the chair of the |
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House Public Health Committee. |
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SECTION 6. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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252.010, Occupations Code, regarding the training program of the |
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State Board of Dental Examiners, does not affect the entitlement of |
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a member serving on the board immediately before the date the board |
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adopts the training manual under Section 252.010(b-1), Occupations |
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Code, as added by this Act, to continue to serve as a member of the |
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board for the remainder of the member's term. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |