89R16979 TYPED By: Hagenbuch S.B. No. 1787 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 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 MEDICINE. (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. LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO PRACTICE MEDICINE. (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.