By: Bonnen of Brazoria, Cosper H.B. No. 2933
(Senate Sponsor - Taylor of Galveston)
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 24, 2017;
May 4, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran
Affairs & Border Security; May 11, 2017, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 11, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the licensing and regulation of military optometrists
and therapeutic optometrists who provide voluntary charity care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 351, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 351.266 to read as follows:
Sec. 351.266. MILITARY LIMITED VOLUNTEER LICENSE. (a) The
board shall adopt rules relating to the issuance of a military
limited volunteer license under this section.
(b) The board may issue a military limited volunteer license
to practice optometry or therapeutic optometry to an applicant who:
(1) is licensed and in good standing, or was licensed
and retired in good standing, as an optometrist or therapeutic
optometrist in another state;
(2) is or was authorized as an optometrist or
therapeutic optometrist to treat personnel enlisted in a branch of
the United States armed forces or veterans; and
(3) meets any other requirement prescribed by board
rule.
(c) The board may not issue a license under this section to
an applicant who:
(1) holds an optometry or therapeutic optometry
license 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;
(2) holds 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
(3) 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.
(d) An optometrist or therapeutic optometrist may practice
optometry or therapeutic optometry under a license issued under
this section only at a clinic that primarily treats indigent
patients. The optometrist or therapeutic optometrist may not
directly or indirectly receive compensation or anything of monetary
value for optometric services rendered at the clinic.
(e) A military limited volunteer license holder is subject
to board rules, including rules regarding disciplinary action,
license registration and renewal, and continuing medical
education.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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