The State Board of Dental Examiners (Board) proposes this amendment to 22 TAC §110.14, concerning the Board's requirements for dentists administering nitrous oxide and levels 1 through 4 of sedation/anesthesia to create, maintain, and annually update emergency preparedness policies and procedures. This amendment to the existing rule will clarify that licensees must annually review and update the relevant emergency policies and must keep a copy of these policies and procedures for two years to be available for inspection by the Board when necessary. This rule is being proposed after public input following the publication of rule 22 TAC §110.14, and is designed to address concerns regarding possible confusion created by the text of the existing rule.

FISCAL NOTE: W. Boyd Bush, Jr., Ed.D., Executive Director, has determined that for the first five-year period the proposed rule is in effect, the proposed rule does not have foreseeable implications relating to cost or revenues of the state or local governments.

PUBLIC BENEFIT-COST NOTE: W. Boyd Bush, Jr. has also determined that for the first five-year period the proposed rule is in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of this rule will be the agency's compliance with legislative directives and the protection of the public safety and welfare by clarifying licensees' requirements related to emergency procedures, drugs, and equipment, including education, training, and certification of personnel, as appropriate.

LOCAL EMPLOYMENT IMPACT STATEMENT: W. Boyd Bush, Jr. has also determined that the proposed rule does not affect local economies and employment. The rule as proposed covers the same individuals currently subject to the existing 22 TAC §110.14, and the current Board rule does not specifically effect any geographic region of Texas. No expansion of applicably will occur by the adoption of this rule. Therefore, no new local economies will be effected by this rule amendment.

SMALL AND MICRO-BUSINESS, RURAL COMMUNITY IMPACT STATEMENT: W. Boyd Bush, Jr. has determined that no economic impact statement and regulatory flexibility analysis for small businesses, micro-businesses, and rural communities is necessary for this rule.

GOVERNMENT GROWTH IMPACT STATEMENT: The Board has determined that for the first five-year period the proposed rule is in effect, the following government growth effects apply: (1) the rule does not create or eliminate a government program; (2) implementation of the proposed rule does not require the creation or elimination of employee positions; (3) the implementation of the proposed rule does not require an increase or decrease in future appropriations; (4) the proposed rule does not require an increase or decrease in fees paid to the agency; (5) the proposed rule does not create a new regulation; (6) the proposed rule does not expand an existing regulation; (7) the proposed rule does not increase or decrease the number of individuals subject to it; and (8) the proposed rule does not positively or adversely affect the state's economy.

COST TO REGULATED PERSONS: This proposed rule does not impose a cost on a regulated person and, therefore, is not subject to Tex. Gov't. Code §2001.0045.

Comments on the proposed amendments may be submitted to W. Boyd Bush, Jr., Ed.D., Executive Director, 333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-800, Austin, Texas 78701, by fax to (512) 305-9364, or by email to official_rules_comments@tsbde.texas.gov for 30 days following the date that the proposed rule is published in the Texas Register. Comments must be: (1) postmarked or shipped by the last day of the comment period; or (2) faxed or e-mailed by midnight on the last day of the comment period to be considered for purposes of this rulemaking.

This rule is proposed under Texas Occupations Code §254.001(a), which gives the Board authority to adopt rules necessary to perform its duties and ensure compliance with state laws relating to the practice of dentistry to protect the public health and safety, and Texas Occupations Code §258.153(b)(4) and (6), directing the Board to promulgate rules related to emergency procedures, drugs, and equipment, including education, training, and certification of personnel, as appropriate, and including protocols for transfers to a hospital and the period in which protocols or procedures covered by rules of the board shall be reviewed, updated, or amended.

No statutes are affected by this proposed rule.