The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (Board) proposes amendments to §102.1, concerning fees. The amendment provides for increases in the Dentists fee schedule for application for licensure by examination, annual registration, application for licensure by credentials and reactivation of a retired license; and the Dental Hygienists fee schedule for application for licensure by examination, annual registration, application for licensure by credentials and reactivation of a retired license; and the Dental Laboratories fee schedule for initial application and annual registration. Senate Bill 263 and House Bill 2985, 78th Legislature amends the required fees for dentists, dental hygienists and dental laboratories.

Mr. Bobby D. Schmidt, Executive Director, Texas State Board of Dental Examiners has determined for the first five year period the amended rule is in effect there will be limited fiscal implications for local or state government as a result of enforcing or administering the rule.

There is an anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the amended section. There is no anticipated local employment impact as a result of enforcing this amended section.

Mr. Schmidt 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 will be the Texas State Board of Examiners will collect the fees necessary to implement the statutes and be fiscally responsible to the citizens of the state of Texas.

The fiscal implications for small or large businesses will be minimal or none at all. Therefore, the Board has determined that compliance with the proposed amended rule will not have an adverse economic impact on small business when compared to large businesses. The requirement under §102.1 will impact individuals who make application for licensure by examination, renew a license or registration annually, make application for licensure by credentials or reactivate a retired license and not small businesses.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Bobby D. Schmidt, M.Ed. Executive Director, Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, 333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 800, Austin, Texas 78701, (512) 475-1660. To be considered, all written comments must be received by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners no later than 30 days from the date that this amended rule is published in the Texas Register.

The amendment is proposed under Texas Government Code §§2001.021 et seq; Texas Civil Statutes, the Occupations Code §254.001 which provides the Board with the authority to adopt and enforce rules necessary for it to perform its duties, and Senate Bill 263, and House Bill 2985, 78th Legislature, 2003, which requires the fees to be adjusted.

No other statutes, codes, or articles are affected by this proposal.