H-1583.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1916

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Skinner, Murray, Thompson, Blalock, Cody and Costa

Read first time 02/13/97.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Improving access for oral health care services for rural and underserved populations.

    AN ACT Relating to improving access for oral health care services for rural and underserved populations; adding a new section to chapter 70.185 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.115 RCW; and making appropriations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the department of health for the purpose of awarding community-based oral health education and prevention grants.  Such grants may be awarded to community and migrant health centers, tribal clinics, or public health jurisdictions.  Grant applications for oral health education and prevention grants must include:  (1) An assessment of the community's oral health education and prevention needs; (2) identification of the population to be served; and (3) a description of the grant program's predicted outcomes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the University of Washington for the school of dentistry's senior dental extern program, dental hygiene degree completion program, and graduate pediatric dental program to serve rural and underserved children through training programs at community and migrant health centers, community clinics, tribal clinics, and public health jurisdictions throughout the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 70.185 RCW to read as follows:

    The department shall utilize the available funds in the recruitment and retention program to target dentists and dental hygienists who wish to practice in remote and underserved areas of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.115 RCW to read as follows:

    The board shall target dentists and dental hygienists who wish to practice in remote and underserved areas of the state when allocating funds for the loan repayment and scholarship program.

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