Bill Text: CT HB05213 | 2018 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

Connecticut House Bill 5213 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: An Act Concerning Oral Health Assessments Of Children.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-05-03 - File Number 670 [HB05213 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2018-HB05213-Comm_Sub.html

General Assembly		*Substitute Bill No. 5213*
*February Session, 2018*		_____HB05213PH____032718____

AN ACT CONCERNING ORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS OF CHILDREN AND THE PROVISION OF FLUORIDE TREATMENTS BY DENTAL ASSISTANTS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2018) (a) Each local or regional board of education shall request that each child enrolled in the public schools submit to an oral health assessment pursuant to the provisions of this section. Such oral health assessment shall be conducted by a (1) dentist licensed pursuant to chapter 379 of the general statutes, (2) dental hygienist licensed pursuant to chapter 379a of the general statutes, or (3) pediatrician licensed pursuant to chapter 370 of the general statutes and trained in conducting an oral health assessment as part of a training program approved by the Commissioner of Public Health. No oral health assessment shall be made of any child enrolled in the public schools unless the parent or guardian of such child consents to such assessment and such assessment is made in the presence of the child's parent or guardian or in the presence of another school employee. The parent or guardian of such child shall receive prior written notice and shall have a reasonable opportunity to opt his or her child out of such assessment, be present at such assessment or provide for such assessment himself or herself. A local or regional board of education may not deny enrollment or continued attendance in public school to any child who does not submit to an oral health assessment pursuant to this section.

(b) Each local or regional board of education shall request that each child submit to an oral health assessment pursuant to subsection (a) of this section prior to public school enrollment, in either grade six or grade seven, and in either grade nine or grade ten. The oral health assessment shall include a dental examination by a dentist or a visual screening and risk assessment for oral health conditions by a dental hygienist or pediatrician. The assessment form shall include a check box for the provider conducting the assessment, as described in subsection (a) of this section, to indicate any low, moderate or high risk factors associated with any dental or orthodontic appliance, saliva, gingival condition, visible plaque, tooth demineralization, carious lesions, restorations, pain, swelling or trauma.

(c) If a local or regional board of education hosts a free oral health assessment event at which a provider described in subsection (a) of this section performs an oral health assessment of children attending a public school, the local or regional board of education shall notify the parents and guardians of the children attending the school in advance of the event. Each parent and guardian shall have the opportunity to opt his or her child out of the oral health assessment event. Each child whose parent did not opt him or her out of the oral health assessment event shall receive an oral health assessment, as prescribed in subsection (b) of this section, free of charge. No child shall receive dental treatment of any kind as part of the oral health assessment event unless the child's parent or guardian provides informed consent for such treatment.

(d) The results of an oral health assessment performed pursuant to this section shall be recorded on a form supplied by the State Board of Education. Such information shall be included in the cumulative health record of each pupil who submitted to an oral health assessment and kept on file in the school such pupil attends. Each dentist, dental hygienist or pediatrician who performs an oral health assessment pursuant to this section shall completely fill out and sign the form and any recommendations of the dentist, dental hygienist or pediatrician concerning the pupil shall be in writing.

(e) Appropriate school health personnel shall review the results of each oral health assessment recorded pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. When, in the judgment of such school health personnel, a pupil is in need of further testing or treatment, the superintendent of schools shall give written notice to the parent or guardian of such pupil and shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that further testing or treatment is provided. Such reasonable efforts shall include a determination of whether or not the parent or guardian has obtained the necessary testing or treatment for the pupil and, if not, advising the parent or guardian as to how such testing or treatment may be obtained. The results of such further testing or treatment shall be recorded pursuant to subsection (d) of this section and shall be reviewed by school health personnel pursuant to this subsection.

Sec. 2. Section 10-209 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):

(a) No record of any medical or dental examination made or filed under the provisions of sections 10-205, 10-206, 10-207 and 10-214 and section 1 of this act, or of any psychological examination made under the supervision or at the request of a board of education, shall be open to public inspection.

(b) Each health care provider, as defined in section 19a-7h, who has provided immunizations pursuant to section 10-204a, [and] each health care provider as described in section 10-206 who has provided health assessments pursuant to section 10-206, and each dentist, dental hygienist or pediatrician who has provided an oral health assessment pursuant to section 1 of this act, to a child who is seeking to enroll in a public school in this state shall provide reports of such immunizations, [and] health assessments and oral health assessments to the designated representative of the local or regional school district governing the school in which the child seeks to enroll. Such health care providers shall also report the results of health assessments required pursuant to section 10-206 and report on immunizations provided pursuant to section 10-204a to such representative for each child enrolled in such public school. Such dentists, dental hygienists and pediatricians shall also report the results of oral health assessments performed under section 1 of this act to such representative for each child enrolled in such public school. Each local and regional board of education shall annually designate a representative to receive such reports from health care providers.

Sec. 3. Subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 20-126l of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):

(2) "Public health facility" means an institution, as defined in section 19a-490, a community health center, a group home, a school, a preschool operated by a local or regional board of education, [or] a head start program or a program offered or sponsored by the federal Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children or a licensed child care center, as described in section 19a-77;

Sec. 4. Subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 20-112a of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):

(c) (1) A licensed dentist may delegate to dental assistants such dental procedures as the dentist may deem advisable, including: (A) The taking of dental x-rays if the dental assistant can demonstrate successful completion of the dental radiation health and safety examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board; [and] (B) the taking of impressions of teeth for study models; and (C) the provision of fluoride varnish treatments, provided the dentist trains the dental assistant in the provision of such treatments. Such procedures shall be performed under direct supervision and the dentist providing direct supervision shall assume responsibility for such procedures. For purposes of this subdivision, "fluoride varnish treatment" means the application of a highly concentrated form of fluoride to the surface of the teeth.


This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2018	New section
Sec. 2	July 1, 2018	10-209
Sec. 3	July 1, 2018	20-126l(a)(2)
Sec. 4	October 1, 2018	20-112a(c)(1)