89R18104 AND-D
By: Frank H.B. No. 879
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 879:
By: VanDeaver C.S.H.B. No. 879
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the licensing of certain military veterans as health
care providers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 155.012 to read as follows:
Sec. 155.012. LICENSING OF CERTAIN MILITARY VETERANS. (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 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;
(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; and
(4) has passed the Texas medical jurisprudence
examination.
(c) 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 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.
SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 301.262 to read as follows:
Sec. 301.262. LICENSING OF CERTAIN MILITARY VETERANS. (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 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;
(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; and
(4) has passed the jurisprudence examination.
(c) 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 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.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.