The State Board of Dental Examiners proposes amendments to §104.2, Providers of continuing education credit hours. The State Board of Dental Examiners proposes to amend §104.2 by adding new paragraph (16) Texas Dental Hygiene Educator's Association to the list of continuing education providers available to licensees. The remainder of §104.2 shall remain unchanged with no proposed amendments to the current language.

Dr. James L. Bolton, Interim Executive Director, State Board of Dental Examiners, has determined for the first five year period the amended rule is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for local or state government as a result of enforcing or administering the rule.

Dr. Bolton has determined that for each year of the first five years the amended rule is in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rule is that there will be an expanded list of educational providers available for dental professionals to obtain the continuing education required for annual license renewal.

It is unknown if there will be any fiscal implications for small businesses. Should such costs be incurred, they will not be of such magnitude to impact the economic viability of a small business. Therefore the SBDE has determined that compliance with the proposed amended rule will not have an adverse economic impact on small business when compared to large businesses, as the cost of compliance, if any, will be minimal.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Mei Ling Clendennen, Assistant Executive Director, State Board of Dental Examiners, 333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 800, Austin, Texas 78701, (512-463-6400). 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 amended rule is published in the Texas Register.

The amended rule is proposed under Texas Government Code§2001.021 et seq.; Texas Civil Statutes, the Occupations Code §254.001 which provides the State Board of Dental Examiners with the authority to adopt and enforce rules necessary for it to perform its duties, and to ensure compliance with laws relating to the practice of dentistry, and §257.005 which provides continuing education requirements for dentists and dental hygienists.

The proposed amended rule does not affect other statutes, articles, or codes.