1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; establishing a statewide initiative for early dental prevention; 
1.3 	establishing grants for dental chair expansion; appropriating money;proposing 
1.4 	coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [144.3875] EARLY DENTAL PREVENTION INITIATIVE.
1.7 	(a) The commissioner of health, in collaboration with the commissioner of human 
1.8 	services, shall implement a statewide initiative to increase awareness among communities 
1.9 	of color and recent immigrants on the importance of early preventive dental intervention 
1.10 	for infants and toddlers before and after primary teeth appear.
1.11 	(b) The commissioner shall develop educational materials and information for 
1.12 	expectant and new parents within the targeted communities that include the importance 
1.13 	of early dental care to prevent early cavities, including proper brushing and cleaning 
1.14 	techniques, before and after primary teeth appear.
1.15 	(c) The commissioner shall develop a distribution plan to ensure that the materials 
1.16 	are distributed to expectant and new parents within the targeted communities, including, 
1.17 	but not limited to, making the materials available to health care providers, community 
1.18 	clinics, WIC sites, and other relevant sites within the targeted communities.
1.19 	(d) In developing these materials and distribution plan, the commissioner shall work 
1.20 	collaboratively with members of the targeted communities, dental providers, pediatricians, 
1.21 	child care providers, and home visiting nurses.

1.22 	Sec. 2. GRANTS FOR DENTAL CHAIR EXPANSION.
 2.1 	(a) The commissioner of health shall award grants to private practicing dentists or 
2.2 	community dental clinics for the purpose of expanding their dental practice by adding a 
2.3 	dental chair and necessary dental equipment. To be eligible for the grants, the dentist or 
2.4 	clinic must meet the following requirements:
2.5 	(1) the chair to be added must be at a clinic or office located within a health 
2.6 	professional shortage area as defined under Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, part 5, 
2.7 	and United States Code, title 42, section 254E; and
2.8 	(2) the dentist or clinic does not restrict access or services because of a patient's 
2.9 	financial limitations or enrollment in a state public health care program.
2.10 	(b) Grant applications may be submitted to the commissioner at any time, and the 
2.11 	commissioner shall award grants to any applicant that meets the requirements until all 
2.12 	appropriated grant funds have been expended.

2.13 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; EARLY DENTAL PREVENTION; DENTAL CHAIR 
2.14 	EXPANSION.
 2.15 	(a) $....... is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2017, from the general 
2.16 	fund to the commissioner of health for the development and distribution of the early dental 
2.17 	prevention initiative under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.3875.
2.18 	(b) $2,000,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2016 from the general fund to the 
2.19 	commissioner of health for dental chair expansion grants. This is a onetime appropriation 
2.20 	and shall be available until expended.