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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to continuing education requirements for dentists |
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regarding pain management with certain prescription medications. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 257.005, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b-1) and adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), and |
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(g) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The board shall require a licensed dentist whose |
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practice includes direct patient care to complete, in accordance |
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with this section, not less than two hours of board-approved |
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continuing education [annually] regarding safe and effective pain |
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management related to the prescription of opioids and other |
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controlled substances, including education regarding: |
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(1) reasonable standards of care; |
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(2) the identification of drug-seeking behavior in |
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patients; and |
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(3) effectively communicating with patients regarding |
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the prescription of an opioid or other controlled substance. |
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(d) A dentist must complete the hours required by Subsection |
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(b-1) in each of the first two renewal periods following the |
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issuance of the dentist's initial license, with two of those hours |
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to be completed not later than the first anniversary of the date of |
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issuance. |
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(e) After the period described by Subsection (d), a dentist |
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must complete not less than two hours of continuing education |
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described by Subsection (b-1) every eight years. |
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(f) The hours required by this section may be completed in |
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any continuing education program approved by the board. |
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(g) Notwithstanding Subsections (d) and (e), a dentist who |
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on September 1, 2021, holds a license to practice under this |
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subtitle shall complete not less than two hours of continuing |
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education described by Subsection (b-1) in each of the two renewal |
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periods occurring after that date. This subsection expires January |
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1, 2026. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, the State |
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Board of Dental Examiners shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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Section 257.005, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act. |
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(b) Section 257.005, Occupations Code, as amended by this |
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Act, applies only to an application for renewal of a license |
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submitted on or after January 1, 2022. A renewal application |
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submitted before January 1, 2022, is governed by the law in effect |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |