HBA-CMT H.B. 109 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 109 By: Flores Public Health 2/20/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Dental sealants help prevent tooth decay and cavities by acting as a barrier against bacteria that cause decay. Further application of dental sealants now can lead to lower dental costs later. Under current law, only dentists or dental hygienists are authorized to perform the cleaning necessary to apply sealants. In 1998, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identified a shortage of dentists in 69 counties in Texas. The Texas Senate Health Committee projects that the need for dentists and dental hygienists and their services will continue to grow. Restricting the application of sealants to these professions limits the number of children who can receive them. House Bill 109 permits dental assistants to perform root planing and the smoothing and polishing of exposed human teeth and to apply sealants. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 109 amends the Occupations Code to delete root planing or the smoothing and polishing of exposed human teeth from the list of acts that a person not licensed as a dentist or dental hygienist may not perform. The bill authorizes a licensed dentist to delegate the application of a pit and fissure sealant to a qualified and trained dental assistant acting under the dentist's direct supervision. The bill authorizes a dental assistant who is not professionally licensed to apply a pit and fissure sealant only if the assistant has at least two years' experience as an assistant, has completed any training required by the State Board of Dental Examiners (board) for application of a sealant, and is certified by the board to perform the act. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.