Bill Text: TX HB548 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to the temporary licensing of certain military veterans as health care providers to practice in underserved areas.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-05-26 - Removed from local & uncontested calendar [HB548 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB548-Introduced.html

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87R651 BEE-F
By: Frank H.B. No. 548

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the licensing of certain military veterans as health
care providers to practice in underserved areas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 155.108 to read as follows:
Sec. 155.108. LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO PRACTICE IN
CERTAIN AREAS. (a) In this section, "active duty" and "armed
forces of the United States" have the meanings assigned by Section
55.001.
(b) The board shall issue a license to practice medicine in
a location described by Subsection (e) to an applicant who:
(1) is licensed in good standing as a physician in
another state;
(2) is a veteran of the armed forces of the United
States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more
than one year before the application date for a license under this
section; and
(3) was, at the time of retiring from or leaving
military service:
(A) serving on active duty in this state; and
(B) authorized as a physician to treat persons
enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans.
(c) An applicant for a license under this section is not
required to have passed the Texas medical jurisprudence
examination.
(d) The board may not issue a license under this section to
an applicant who:
(1) holds a medical license or a license to prescribe,
dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that:
(A) is currently under active investigation; or
(B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or
action or to denial by another jurisdiction; or
(2) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication
community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under
active investigation for the commission of:
(A) a felony; or
(B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
(e) A physician licensed under this section may practice
only in:
(1) a health professional shortage area, as defined by
Section 157.051; or
(2) a medically underserved community, as defined by
Section 487.201, Government Code.
SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 301.262 to read as follows:
Sec. 301.262. LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO PRACTICE IN
CERTAIN AREAS. (a) In this section, "active duty" and "armed
forces of the United States" have the meanings assigned by Section
55.001.
(b) The board shall issue a license to practice nursing in a
location described by Subsection (e) to an applicant who:
(1) is licensed in good standing as a nurse in another
state;
(2) is a veteran of the armed forces of the United
States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more
than one year before the application date for a license under this
section; and
(3) was, at the time of retiring from or otherwise
leaving military service:
(A) serving on active duty in this state; and
(B) authorized as a nurse to treat persons
enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans.
(c) An applicant for a license under this section is not
required to have passed the jurisprudence examination.
(d) The board may not issue a license under this section to
an applicant who:
(1) holds a nursing license or a license to prescribe,
dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that:
(A) is currently under active investigation; or
(B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or
action or to denial by another jurisdiction; or
(2) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication
community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under
active investigation for the commission of:
(A) a felony; or
(B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
(e) A nurse licensed under this section may practice only
in:
(1) a health professional shortage area, as defined by
Section 157.051; or
(2) a medically underserved community, as defined by
Section 487.201, Government Code.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.