The State Board of Dental Examiners (SBDE) proposes new §108.56, concerning Certifications, Degrees, Fellowships, Memberships and Other Credentials.

The section is proposed concurrent with the adoption of the repeal of §§108.50 - 108.61 and new §§108.50 - 108.55 and §§108.57 - 108.63, relating to Business Promotion. The proposed section addresses the advertisement of credentials in dentistry that do not reflect a recognized specialty area or an earned academic degree. The section stipulates that abbreviations designating these credentials must be defined in advertisements. The section exempts materials not intended for business promotion or dissemination to the public from the requirement imposed.

Glenn Parker, Executive Director, has determined that for each year of the first five-year period the section is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the section.

Mr. Parker has also determined that for each year of the first five years the section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be protection of the public health and safety by ensuring the public is not misled as to a dentist's credentials. There will not be a significant fiscal effect on small businesses. However, SBDE anticipates an initial economic cost of compliance may be carried by those licensees whose current advertisements contain undefined credentials in abbreviated form.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted electronically to Nycia Deal, Staff Attorney at nycia+108.56@tsbde.texas.gov or by mail to Nycia Deal, Staff Attorney, State Board of Dental Examiners, 333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 800, Austin, Texas 78701. Comments may also be faxed to (512) 463-7452. To be considered, all written comments must be received by the State Board of Dental Examiners no later than 30 days from the date that this proposed section is published in the Texas Register.

The new section is proposed under Texas Government Code §§2001.021 et seq. and Texas Occupations Code §254.001, which authorize the Board to adopt and enforce rules necessary for it to perform its duties.

The new section affects Texas Occupations Code, Title 3, Subtitle D and Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 5.