A divisive proposal that would ban mobile dental clinics in schools has won approval from the House Health and Welfare Committee.
But the committee added an array of exceptions to the bill by Republican Rep. Kevin Pearson, including the allowance of the mobile clinics in areas deemed underserved by dentists.
Several members of the committee tried to move the issue out of the Legislature and over to the State Dental Board to devise regulations for the mobile units. Those attempts failed in an 8-6 vote against the move.
The mobile dental clinics have provided care to thousands of poor Louisiana children on school campuses. But supporters of the ban say they are unsanitary and unsafe.
The bill heads next to the full House for debate.—-Contact The Daily Reveille news staff at [email protected]