Legislation

Let’s Collaborate!

Join our Legislative Junky Group on Facebook!
We are a core group of hygienists that can be called on to build relationships with our legislators. This is a non-partisan group. We support any legislator that understands and supports our mission to expand our scope of practice to improve access to care in our communities.

Teledentistry

TSBDE does not have the rules set yet for Teledentistry however, we can technically work using tele dentistry as of September 1st. So what does that mean? Well, it is a gray area at the moment, however, Legislative co-chair has shared a great resource on how tele dentistry is used nationally. Please review this manual from the National Network for Oral Health Access for some interim guidance.

NNOHA Teledentistry User Guide

Staying Connected to Your Legislators Virtually

During the 2021 Texas Legislative Session

Download Stay Connected How-To-Guide

Resources

 

What does TDHA do for Texas Dental Hygienists?

As we prepare for the 2021 legislative year, TDHA urges you to take an active role in your professional association. Your TDHA membership and voice in the Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association helps provide meaningful input as we work for legislation that helps you.

Following are some of the important efforts your TDHA Governmental Affairs Council has been working on and participating in:

  1. Texas State Board of Dental Examiners-TDHA has been actively following and updating members on important rule changes and actions by the board.
  2. Texas Oral Health Coalition- Working with TxOHC on important public health issues  to promote oral health across Texas including speaking at TxOHC conference.
  3. Building Stakeholders-TDHA works in collaboration with our lobbyist to build stakeholders that support TDHA’s legislative efforts.
  4. Building Relationships- TDHA helps connect you with your legislators to voice your concerns and alert legislators of upcoming or pending legislation.
  5. Draft Legislation-TDHA works hard to develop and draft legislation that will benefit all Texas Dental Hygienists.
  6. Lobbies- TDHA employs a lobbyist to advocate for dental hygienists, recruit stakeholders, and monitor legislation as the legislative session progresses.
  7. Texas Disabilities Issues Forum-TDHA will be co-hosting this amazing event. The Texas Disability Issues Forum (TDIF) brings together members of the Texas disability community, major candidates for statewide office, and disability advocates to discuss current issues affecting the Texas disability community.
  8. Labor Laws-TDHA helps educate and monitor labor laws that affect dental hygienists in Texas.
  9. Communication- TDHA has an open line of communication with members regarding upcoming Governmental Affairs, Education, and different opportunities that would benefit Texas hygienists.

Download the PDF of this information here: What does TDHA do….pdf

TDHA is an organization of licensed dental hygienists whose main purpose is to serve the citizens of Texas with quality dental health services. The focus is primarily on prevention of oral disease and the maintenance of good oral health. Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association, PO Box 262332, Plano, TX  75026, 512-220-7800  www.texasdha.org

hypac-donation-form-2021-2022Download

10 Things You Need To Be Doing To Build A Relationship With Your Legislator

Right now, when the Legislature is not in Session, there are 10 Things You Need To Be DOING to Build a Relationship with your Legislator

  1. GET TO KNOW YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. Plan several visits to meet with your legislators.  Have a small group of hygienists invite them for coffee or bring lunch to their office.  Invite them to your dental hygiene meetings or community events and introduce them to constituent members.  Take photos when they visit your events.  Put photos on social media and send photos to the legislators.
  2. HELP CANDIDATES GET ELECTED.Continuously VOLUNTEER your time! Make contributions to their campaign, help with fundraising, ring doorbells (block walk) in their district, write personal correspondence on their behalf, display yard signs, etc.  Building a relationship is a time commitment and must be an ongoing thing!  Survey your component members to match them to their legislators.
  3. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.Call your legislator’s district or capitol office and set up a specific time to meet with them. The purpose of this visit should be to introduce yourself, explain you are a member of TDHA and express your concerns about access to care laws in Texas which prevent hygienists from practicing to the full extent of their education.
  4. BE PROMPT, PUNCTUAL and PATIENT.It is not uncommon for a legislator to be late or need to cancel a meeting.  Take the opportunity to get to know his/her staff.  Become familiar with committees on which your legislator sits, especially if it is one of the health committees. Make the connection between access to dental care and the committee’s activities.  Get contact information for everyone you speak with.
  5. BRING SUPPORTIVE TDHA RESOURCE MATERIALS WITH YOU TO LEAVE BEHIND. Your legislator may not be familiar with dental hygienists and our issues (local anesthesia, expanded settings in which we could practice, more relaxed supervision laws with less government regulation). GAC can provide you with handouts to leave behind.
  6. BE POLITICALLY CORRECT AND OUTLINE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
  • ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL. Be sure the legislator knows you are a constituent (live in their district) and that you have voted. They can look up your voting history from past elections.
  • Discuss what has happened in other states around these issues. (44 states allow local anesthesia; many states have hygienists in expanded settings; many states allow collaborative practice relationships with supervising dentists). Offer to send documentation if legislator is interested.
  • Discuss with your legislator specific TX statistics to let them know how our state ranks at the bottom. GAC can get this information for you.
  • Discuss any opposition to an issue, for example, TDA.
  • Do not give misinformation to a legislator. Your credibility and integrity are your strongest assets. Be responsive to questions and if you do not know the answer say , “I don’t know but I will find out and get back to you”.
  1. UTILIZE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. “FRIEND” your legislator through social media sites, texts or email and maintain ongoing communications.
  2. MAKE A PERSONAL CONNECTION. Tell personal stories that illustrate problems with access to care, for example, lack of dental hygienists in nursing homes and long term care facilities.
  3. PHOTO OPPORTUNITY! Take a photo and report the event in your dental hygiene newsletter, website, or during a meeting.
  4. ALWAYS SEND A BRIEF THANK YOU NOTE.Leave your contact information and offer to be their DENTAL HYGIENE RESOURCE for any follow-up questions.

Download the PDF of this information here: gac-10-things-you-need-to-be-doing

Remember, your GAC team is here to help you BEFORE and AFTER your visits. 

TDHA is an organization of licensed dental hygienists whose main purpose is to serve the citizens of Texas with quality dental health services. The focus is primarily on prevention of oral disease and the maintenance of good oral health. Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association, PO Box 262332, Plano, TX 75026, 512-220-7800  www.texasdha.org