Legislation to expand the Tyler Junior College dental hygiene program appears on track for passage.

State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, and state Rep. Travis Clardy, R-Nacogdoches, filed companion bills in the Texas Legislature to create the dental hygienist bachelor program.

The bills, SB 1400 and HB 3348, propose to amend the Texas Education Code to allow the Texas Education Coordinating Board to approve a baccalaureate dental hygiene program for TJC.

Clardy’s House bill passed in the House on Friday, and Eltife’s Senate bill is pending in committee. Both legislators expressed cautious optimism that one of the bills would make it through the legislative gauntlet.

Tyler Junior College President Mike Metke said the school wants to expand its program to meet a need in the community and provide a less expensive alternative for students to complete the bachelorette dental hygiene certification.

TJC already offers up to 90 hours of the dental hygiene course, or three years of the four-year degree. Texas Women’s University has agreed to transfer those hours and complete the degree for students, Metke said.

Creating the bachelor program would also increase state money for the school via the state’s higher education funding formula for such courses.

“It’s the strongest case for a bachelorette degree at a two-year college,” Metke said. “It’s not a new concept but it addresses a need and a niche that isn’t provided in this area.”

The closest four-year dental hygiene programs are in Dallas and Houston, he said.

Eltife said getting either bill passed could be a challenge but that East Texas legislators are making the best case for the TJC program’s expansion.

“Passing this bill is somewhat of an uphill battle, because it changes the traditional scope and mission of a junior college, but we all know TJC is prepared to handle this program, and we’re hoping to secure a pilot program,” Eltife said.

Establishing a pilot program could assuage lingering concerns among legislators by giving them an opportunity to review how the four-year degree might affect other institutions around the state, Eltife said. Eltife said he expects the program would be positive for TJC, East Texas and the state.

Kel Selliger, R-Amarillo, the Senate Committee on Higher Education chairman, has expressed worries the program could leave room for similar program expansions at community and junior colleges around the state.

TJC’s attempt to secure a dental hygiene bachelor program has received numerous letters and resolutions of support, including from the Texas Department of Health Services, which noted that dental care was the “greatest unmet health care need” in the 35-county East Texas service area.

The department’s East Texas director Paul McGaha said in the letter that TJC’s program has played a critical role in oral health services for 46 years and fully supports the program’s expansion to a four-year degree.

Clardy is optimistic his bill will make it through the Senate once it is made clear the bill is specific to TJC and a limited medical discipline. Selliger’s concerns are valid, Clardy said, but that institutions around the state have different missions and that expanding the dental program is good for the school and the region.

Metke said the program would create professionals who are likely to stay in East Texas where they are needed.

He said he had the full support of area legislators, who Metke said were trying to “find inroads” to see the bill to the governor’s desk and signed.

“This program enhances Tyler’s position as a medical hub, not only for services but also training,” Metke said.