**2 j** 

**3 u)**  OFFICE OFTHEATTORNEY GENERAL OFTEXAS 4 **AUSTIN**

Texas State Board of Dental Exx;mriners 311momoodlul.1~ Austin, **‘ Ce;nas** 



### Re: C atr tianof the

A?!?3 w of the g.l t **e, 1943,**  **8ffecting** the pr tic 0 deuistry.

oonstruction of ing to the praot our careful cons requesting our islature, relat-

, has been given

tiona which you wer the auuerous qucsegire you our construetand feel sure you can regulations concerning ed, without further asSection 1of Article 4%5Oa,as amended, provided that each dentist shall be registered with the State Board of Dental Exaklnere on or before Am-oh 1st of each calendar year, undpay a registration fee of $3.00. It is our construction of this portion of the &t that the annual fee meansfor the coleudar year beginning with &larch 1st of each year, aud that a $~..ooPee Is required of each dsntfat **Sor** each par, and **SuEe** is due to be paid on or beforeTexas state Board OSDental Examiners - page 2

the first day of each succearoive Idarch. Unless paid **by** that time, thenbefore his liaense is reinstated by the Dental Board, he Is required to pay au additional $5.00, plus his delinquent annuel payment.

If **a** dentist ie mu delinquent for his 1943 dues, or **uan** delfnquent onMayl&h, rhea **the x141**  lar took effect, before he aan have his license renesed, he mustpar the annual dues of $5.00, plus the $0.00 ponaltp, and the ne* license or registration rould expire onharch 1, 1944, at which tlale auother **annual** dues vi11 be payable.

If adentist becoxes deliuquent because he did not pay his dues by Marah 1, X344,before **h9** aan be reinstated, he siust pay his &I.00 dues for 1944, plus a w.00 peoaltr, and the registration oertlfiaate given upon said restoration would expire onYaroh l# 1918.. IYlthreferewe to ths dentists rho are in tbe Amed fforoee, the last sentence of Se&ion 2, of ,Lrticle 488oa **readsr**

*Provided, horwer, that **the** requircments **governing** the paynent of anwal regls- &ration fees andpenatties for late registration shall not apply to lieenseee ~bo are on **astite** duty with the Armed **Forces** of the United States of dnerlca and **are** not **engaged** In private or civilian practice .s Our lnterprotation oP this exe&ion is that 4.f a dentist stands the em&nation before the Aoard and ab**tains** his license While he is in the ArmedForces, or having previously obtained his license and is In the Arned r’oroes, he vi11 not oweanyduee before **bar&** 1, lQ44. If, onkaroh 1, lQ44, **he** Is still In said aerrioe, herill not be required to pay an7 **oP** the annual duem ror the year ending U8rCh 1, lQ4S. If, hoverer, he is not In the Armed Forces prior to iarch 1, 1944, he rill ove the $S.oOdues for th9 year, begiming at that time, andwill become delinquent onkarcrhlr lQ44, although he mayenter the service ouhareh 36, or at any time thereafter. IP, as a matter of fact, heis delinquent at the time he goes into the service, thenrhen he cones out, bet’ore he osn have his lioense relnstatod, ho *ill be oompellod to pay all of hisdues that rrere in arrears that bbecamedue betore he entered

the service, together with all the penalties that attached before he entered the service.

There is no specific provision in the statute as to howthe Board my knowor determine whether adentist is In the serviae of the ArmedForces. It would be eutire17propert andwe **think** the best way to aeaertain these Pacts, to hare each dentist whogoes into tha ArmedBorcos notify the Board of said fact, and send~, such lniormation relative thereto, as the Beard might need In deterxining the truthfulness OPthe dentist’s represeutatkona. If, as a matter of foot, adentist Is in the Armedforaea onor before Liarch 1st of anJyear, andremains until **after** March 1st of Said year, he cannot be jade to pey the $s.OO registration fee for said year, neither oan he be madeto pay the $S.OOpenalty Por having Sailed to register.

Wetrust that that wehave said sul’f’ioiently answers iour inquiry. If there is any further **desired,. let**  **us know.** 

Very truly yours informitlon

TFXAS

Gee. il. lkaraus lsai stant