PRICE DANIEL AW?WTIN ~.TJZXAS
ATTT”RNEY

GENERAL Apall 14; 1950

**Hon. Ft.**  **T. veber,**  **D.D.8. Sawrerta~-Treasurer**  Texas State Board of Bentel Examiners Austin,Texas Optaiom lo. Tr~1049,
.Ret T&J exe@~&ionof dentiats em$oyed by the Veterens Admlniatrat:on or ttw II

.S. 

### Pub11e Eeeltb Service ircim Texas licewe and

mer sir: registretlonraquiremats.

roll OVB: 

### Your request for an opinion reads in part a8

“Sire World 

### Was 1% the Veterans ‘Admihistratlonof the United Stat& has employed a number of Texas licenseeson a full **time** basis to performdental aervteesuponex-membersof the Armed 

### Foroes **under** the W-Veterans program. These Texas dentlatapraotlce in FederalVeterans hospitals in the State of Texas and in other states and In officea rented or leased .by the VetWBn8 Admfnlatretion in variousTex

### a8 8reas. Eo 

### fees are charged the ex-servlae member and the Texas licensee receives a f-xed salary **from** the Veterans AdmLniatratLon.
“The United States Public Health Service hes employed Texas licensees, on full time beeis the same as the Veterans AdmI.niatration and that agency Is oonslderedby this department as oooupylnga simllar~position to the Veterans Administration in so far as the operetlon of the Texas laws is concerned.”
On the basis of the ,above faota, you 

### have pre- Haf*Q for our determtnatlon the followingthree qUWtiOUB: “1* The full time VetereU!AdmlniBtr8- t&on and United states Public Eealth Service 

### Texas lloens.ed

dent ats &&aim exemptionun- ‘day the

. . . **:**

&stu 8 (Ark.**3550a, &C**  **.S. ).** Bon. R. T. Weber, D.D.3., page 2 (V-1045)

Are such licenseesentitled to snnual registration fee exemption?
"2

. Are full time Veterans Adminiatration and United States Public Health Servlm dentists not licensed to practicedentistry in Texas but who perform dental servicesupon ex-membersof the Armed Forces and/or their dependentsin VeteransAdministration hospitals under the exalusivecontrol and jurisdiction

of the Federal Government in violationof the **o -**  **. statutes**  prohibiting the practice of dentistryby persons not lltensed so to do?
“3. Are full time VeteransAdmInistration and United States Public Health Service dentists not licensed to practicedentistry in Texas who perform dental servicesupon ex-membersof the Armed Forces end/or therr dependents in offices,clinics, or other establishments **under** lease by the Veterans Administration

exempt from the provisions of the Texas Statutesprohibitingthe practioe of dentistrywithout first having been licensed in this State?"
The above questtonswill bs discussed and answered in the order stated.

Artfcle 4550a,V.C.S., provides.in'part: Provided,however, that the requirem&'governing the payment of annual registrationfees and penalties for late registrationshall not apply to lioenseea who sre on active duty with the armed forces of the United States of America, and are not engaged In private or civilianpractice." Article 4548, V.C.S., is as follows:
"Ro person shall practice or offer,or attempt to practicedentistry or dental surgery in this State, without first havFng obtaineda license from the State Board of Dental Examiners, as provided 

### for In this lav, provided that physiciansand surgeons may, in the regular practice of theFr profession,extract teeth or make applicationRon. B. T. Weber, D.D.S., page 3 (V-1045)

for the relief of pain. nothing herein applies to any person legally engaged in the practioe of dentistry in Texas et the time 

### of the pass,age

of this law."
38 lJ.S.C.As,

Set .15, Is **as** follows:
"The medical service in the Veterans' Administration,

as at present constituted, is abolishedand in its stead there is suthorlzed and establishedin the Veterans'Administrationa Department of MedicFne and **Surgery** under a Chief Medical birector. The functionsof the Departmentof Medicine and **Surgery** shall be those necessaryfor a aomplete mediaal and hospital service to be prescribedby the AdminLstratorof Veterena' Affairs (referredto in sections 15-l% of this title as the Administrator) pursuant to said sections, other statutoryauthorityand regulationsestablishedpursuant to law, for the medical aare and trea,tment of **veterans.** Jan. 3, 1946 c. 658, 8 1, **59** Stat. 6~5.~
38 U3.C.A., Sec. 158 provides that the depart**ment** of medicine and surgery shall Include the followingt Office of the Chief Medfcal Director,Medical Servtce, Dental Service, Nursing Qervicep and AuxiliaryService.

38 u.a.c.A.,Sec.15d provides: "Any person to be eligible for appointment fn the Department of Mediciae and Surgery must -- "(a) Be a aitieen of the Unlted States. "(b) Xn the Medioal Service -- "Bold the degree of doctor of medicine or of doctor of osteopathyfrom a college or **u&verslty** approvedby the Administrator, have completed ,611 InternShipaatisfsotoryto the Administrator, and be liceneed to praotice medicine, **surgery, or**  osteopathyin one of **the Qtates** **’ or**  TeZ?ritorieB of the United **&totes** 

### or **;Zn** the **Distrlot** of Columbia. "(a) In the Dental 

### Servioe --Hon. B. 1. Weber, D.D.S., page 4 (V-1045)

"Hold the degree of doctor of dental surgery from a college or universityapprovedby the Administrator, and be licensed to practioe dentistryFn one of the States or Territories of the United States or in the DLstrictof Columbia.

. .'I
38 U.S.C.A., Sec. 706b is as follows:

"In the adminlstratlon of laws pertaining to veterans,retired officers,and enlisted men of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, who served honorably during a war period as recognizedby the Veterans'Admlnistration, shall be, and are entitled to hospitalizationand domioiliarycare in the same manner and to the same extent as veterans of any war are now or may hereafterbe furnished hospitalizationor domiciliarycare by the Veterans' Administration and subject to those provisions of pare gulationNumbered 8raph VI (A) of Veterans Re- (c),which provide for reduction of monetary benefits to veteranshaving neitherwife, child, nor dependentparent whhile being furnishedhospital treatment, institution61 or domlc~llaryaare. July 19, 1939, ch.331, -, ltjf4,5389,t,a$.- 1070; Dea. 22, 191, c.612, 55

. Veterans RegulationNo. 78a) promulgatedby Rxecutive Order No. 6333 dated July 2 , 1933, (38 U.S.C.A., p.684) provides:

"The Administratorof Veterans' Affairs, within the limits of Veterans' Administration facilities,is authorizedin his discretionto furnish to honorably dischargedveterans of any war, including the Boxer rebellion and the PhilippineFnsurreotl.on, and to men honorably discharged from the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard for disabilities incurred in line of duty, such medical, surgiaal, and dental services as may be found to be reasonablynecessary for diseases or injuries incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; in the active military or naval service. D

. This office has been reliably informedby the Veterans Administration that it is not within or underNon. B. T. Uebep, D-D.@., pew 3 (V-16@)

the jurisdicstfon

of any of tbe aevercrl depa*menta that o to make up the Axused Foraes of the United Stat(rs. On La ocntPapJp it Is a **sewrate** federal agency. 'PhePublie lteerlth

Semfoe La likewise a separate federal agency u~&r&e~~u~~~~P~~~on of the Federal Security Menc)'~. *.*a# 00 

# &m.B&f , 83 t. aupp. na

"The PublicHealth Seroioe ia not 1. **part** of the Armed Fordes of the United states * Those consist of the Amy, la the Mar&m Corps, end the Croast ffugsd. Sk Woe Oq !?a+,

the Public 8erZth dewlob oa be end la World War II wee temportwil~ta f* sir0 into the Armed Foxwa."

It tbewfore follows that since the Vetsraar **AdPriaistratPon and**  United Stetea PubLio Efealth 8efolco @a?e not within the jurisdloticn of asy of the departtaents comprisingthe Armed lkwaee of the United States **the Qantfsta**  in the employmentof such agenciesare no& *on Sotlve duty with the **Armed** Boraea of the United @Cater" **witb;hin** the meantadl, cf **A** rt+o,le05gOs, V.C.S., 

### mlafing to the exemption from p#pnt of ~fat8e&w& fmm P@quimd of lf.cenaed T,xrrr detittists. Peslifn$

nw to yea rectind queatlon,we 

### Ball stl;at)Blon

at the nutsat +o tbe;factbbet c$baptar 7 

### of TfAlC l+~

ot' VernMas8 **Pbncrl Code**  **end** Cbeptsr 

### 9 of Title 7% OZ “WPUO~‘s CivLl 8t%tutea~regulatlng the practice O$'hWtrtrg am eoceMf#ea of the pcllce povepa of the btrW End 8~ al **velfere of**  6@ $*.W.26

601

In rwln v. Conn 225 H,C. 267, 34 $.#.2tt 402 (19b3),, the oo

+ "Immunftgof interfezsace by local le* with tbe instrumentelftfes created for theBoa. B. 1. Wehr, D.D.8.) page 6 (V-1045)

governmentof the Imted State8 Is a femiliar pmlciple.” 1
the court J&My v. United 8tetsr, 319 Ii.?. 441 (1943)

“Sinoe the United 8trtes ir a govbmment of delegatedpowers,, aoae of whiah may be exercisedthroughoutthe aetlon by any one state, it la necessary for **uaif%mity** that the laws of the United States bs dominant over those of any etete. 8uoh dominanoy is requiredalso to avoid a breakdovn of administration

though possibleconfliots arising from inoonsiatept requirements. The ,supremaay

oraube bf the C.~netitutlcia~states

‘prino&ples

1,

. . . “These inn ly u on the Uni ed States. They am money

r ction fees epe latd directexac eIons the payment of ‘whioh,’ if they are enforoeable,

would be requlmd before executing a function of government. 8wh a requirement is prohibitedby the atipremaay clause.We are not dealing as in Oreves, v. State of New York, etc., suupTa, with a ta% upon the salery of an employee, or as in State of Alabamav. King & BoozerP,

314 U.S. 1, 62 8.M. 43, 86 L. Rd. 3. 140 A.L. R. 63.5. with a tax man the pu.r&kes of a suppl&, or as in **Peh** D&k.es, v. Milk Gontml Oomm. of Pennsylvania, :??;.s. 261, 63 s.ct. 617, 87 L. Rd. +

316, 4 L. Hd. 579; .276 (1899);Johnson ; State of Arizona v. ,FoveS v. Mitchell,. . . .

Ron. B. T. Weber, D.D.S., page 7 (v-1045)

deolded MarrPh

1, 1943, with pr&ee oontrol exemised over a contractorwith the Unitaamy on the buefness of the post office or upon the privilegeof 

### aeaqling Vnited States bonds through federal offioiala. Admittedly the state Puspeotionservioe is to protect consumers from fraud but In carrying out sucsh

protection,the federal fun&ion **must** be left free.” (EmphasOsadded)

In AttorneyGeneral Opinion ,190. O-4764, dated **Atigust 25,**  **1942, it**  **is** stated:

“In view 

### of the authorltLesabove cited and with reoogniteonof their virtual Identity to the situationwhloh you have sub&teed to this department p you are respectfullyadvised that **Articles** 4548 and **45% of**  the Revised Civil **Statutes** of Texas (19’25) and Article 747 of Vernon’s Penal Code of Texas, prohibitingthe practice of dentlstrg in Texas by unlicensed !i ersons, am poPice regula%fonsof the tate and as such cannot eonstftutionallg be applied to unlfoensed persons who are prao%iofngdentistry under the order and dfrectfon of %he eommandfng officer of an alPen detentionoamp establishedand malnteined by the United S%ateso” By mason of the foregoing,ft is our oplnlon that dentfsts employed full time by th,e Veterans **Admin** istrationand Wni.%ed States Public Health Servioe perfoW.ng services on ex-memberaof the Armed Foroes are not subject to the police power of %he State of 

### Texar pBQulx%hgdeatfste to be licensed In Texas.

The same principles of law herein announoed are applicableto those dentists employedfull time by the Veterans Administrationin performingdental servioes for ex-membersof the Armed Forces and their dependents fn offices,clfnfcs or other establishments under lease by the Veterans Administration Fnasmucha8 they”are under the direct supervisionof the Veterans Adminfstratfon

I) A federal agenoy Fs Immune from state. . . .

Hou. R. T. Weber, D.D.S,, 

### page 8 (v-1045)

Interfereme. united states v. owl&t, 15 F~. supp. 736 (D.c.PS. 1936), pi, ntists penfmiag dutb3s under the supervisionof'

the Federal (iovernw~ tn eueh establlahments are not subject to Che polioe power of a state.

Dentls~sMployed 'Iti1'time by the Veteraa Administration and th8 United States Publio **Health** Service are not on aotive duty with the Armed Forcen of the United States within the meaning of Artiole 4550a,V.C.9., but dentists so employedby such federal agen- ,ciqs gre no# qubjeot tu Tjixata 1loessWg ,laws **(A&t%.** 45484455OS,V.C.Si) Lueswwfh ;#a~ the ectlvitiesof'

federal aaenelesare not **rub** ject to the police pore% of the State.Walls

81 F. Supp. 210 (DISC.Co? d States, 319 U.S. 441. aone v. California,283 naon v.,Msyyland,,

254 U. 15 F. supp.

APPRO'JEDt
J. C. Davis, Jr. County AffairsDivision
Charles D. Mathews Executive Assistant
RW!bh:ml:mw Yours Very truly,
PRIC& DANIEL Attornavy

General



# ‘! Bi5 Assiatent