By: Frank 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; and
(B) authorized as a physician to treat persons
enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans;
(4) was honorably discharged from military service;
and
(5) has passed the Texas medical jurisprudence
examination.
(c) 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.
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 204, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 204.159 to read as follows:
Sec. 204.159. 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 physician assistant board shall issue a license to
an applicant who:
(1) is licensed in good standing as a physician
assistant 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; and
(B) authorized as a physician assistant to treat
persons enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or
veterans;
(4) was honorably discharged from military service;
and
(5) has passed the jurisprudence examination.
(c) The physician assistant board may not issue a license
under this section to an applicant who:
(1) holds a physician assistant 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.
SECTION 3. 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; and
(B) authorized as a nurse to treat persons
enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans;
(4) was honorably discharged from military service;
and
(5) has passed the jurisprudence examination.
(c) 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.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.