By: Frank, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Blanco) H.B. No. 548
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2021;
May 4, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran
Affairs & Border Security; May 20, 2021, reported adversely, with
favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6,
Nays 0; May 20, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 548 By: Blanco
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the temporary 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. TEMPORARY 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 temporary 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) was discharged or separated from the armed forces
of the United States:
(A) on the basis of substandard conduct; or
(B) for any act of misconduct or moral or
professional dereliction;
(2) 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 any 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.
(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.
(f) A license issued under this section:
(1) expires 18 months after the date the license was
issued; and
(2) may not be renewed.
SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 301.262 to read as follows:
Sec. 301.262. TEMPORARY 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 temporary 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) was discharged or separated from the armed forces
of the United States:
(A) on the basis of substandard conduct; or
(B) for any act of misconduct or moral or
professional dereliction;
(2) 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 any 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.
(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.
(f) A license issued under this section:
(1) expires 18 months after the date the license was
issued; and
(2) may not be renewed.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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