State dental board requests pay raises, more licensing staff and NPDB support amid rising caseloads

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners told the Senate Committee on Finance that rapid growth in licensees and a surge in complaints have strained its licensing and enforcement divisions and requested targeted staff and pay increases to sustain service levels.

LBB recommended funding the board at just under $10,000,000 in all funds for the upcoming biennium, a 2.6% biannual increase and no change to authorized FTEs. The LBB packet noted a variety of agency requests not included in recommendations that totaled roughly $1.3 million in General Revenue; the agency clarified afterward that no additional FTE caps were requested, only funding to fill vacancies.

Dr. David Yu, presiding officer of the board, told senators the agency had seen an 8% increase in dentists and hygienists and a 13% increase in dental assistants since the last session. He said the agency has only nine FTEs responsible for auditing more than 82,000 active licenses and that enforcement caseloads have increased about 70% overall. "641 enforcement cases are worked by only 3 staff attorneys," the board reported, and staff salaries are about 38% below market averages, the agency said.

Casey Nichols, the board's executive director, outlined five exceptional items briefly because the hearing was running up against a senate floor session: a 10% salary increase for eligible employees; funding for three additional licensing and permit specialists (about $219,000 including salary and equipment); one licensed impairment specialist to handle statutory NPDB background checks for about 40,000 queries annually; funding for an additional staff attorney to help clear a backlog of enforcement cases; and an adjustment to the executive director's salary to a higher pay group.

The committee did not take action during the hearing. LBB and agency materials will be considered as the committee compiles Article 8 budget language and proposed rider changes.