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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of an advisory committee to study the |
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feasibility of requiring dental examinations for certain public |
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school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The |
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commissioner of state health services shall establish an advisory |
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committee to study and provide recommendations to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and the legislature regarding the feasibility of requiring dental |
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examinations for public school students who are entering the first |
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grade. |
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(b) The advisory committee consists of the following eight |
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members appointed by the commissioner of state health services: |
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(1) a representative of the Department of State Health |
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Services; |
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(2) a representative of the Texas Education Agency; |
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(3) a member of the Texas Dental Association; |
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(4) a member of the Texas Academy of Pediatric |
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Dentistry; |
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(5) a member of the Texas Dental Hygienists |
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Association; |
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(6) a member of the Texas School Nurses Organization; |
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(7) an individual who: |
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(A) holds a license issued under Subtitle D, |
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Title 3, Occupations Code; and |
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(B) is currently engaged in the practice of |
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dentistry; and |
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(8) a member of the Texas State Board of Dental |
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Examiners. |
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(c) The commissioner of state health services shall ensure |
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that the members of the advisory committee reflect the diverse |
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geographic regions and population groups of this state. |
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(d) The representative of the Department of State Health |
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Services shall serve as chair of the advisory committee. |
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(e) An advisory committee member is not entitled to |
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reimbursement of expenses or to compensation. |
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(f) Not later than November 1, 2011, the commissioner of |
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state health services shall appoint the members to the advisory |
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committee as required by this section. |
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(g) Not later than December 1, 2011, the advisory committee |
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shall hold an organizational meeting. The committee shall meet |
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regularly as necessary. |
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(h) The advisory committee shall study: |
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(1) the advantages and disadvantages of requiring a |
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dental examination performed by a dentist for each student not |
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earlier than the 180th day before or not later than the 30th day |
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after the date the student enters the first grade; and |
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(2) the costs, resources, and best practices |
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associated with requiring the dental examination described by |
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Subdivision (1). |
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(i) Not later than December 1, 2012, the advisory committee |
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shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker |
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of the house of representatives, and the legislature a report |
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outlining the feasibility of requiring dental examinations for |
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public school students who are entering the first grade. |
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SECTION 2. INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN LAW. Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code, does not apply to the advisory committee |
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established under this Act. |
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SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. The advisory committee established |
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under this Act is abolished and this Act expires on December 1, |
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2013. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |