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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the licensing of certain military veterans as health |
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care providers to practice in underserved areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 155.108 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 155.108. LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO PRACTICE IN |
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CERTAIN AREAS. (a) In this section, "active duty" and "armed |
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forces of the United States" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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55.001. |
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(b) The board shall issue a license to practice medicine in |
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a location described by Subsection (e) to an applicant who: |
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(1) is licensed in good standing as a physician in |
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another state; |
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(2) is a veteran of the armed forces of the United |
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States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more |
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than one year before the application date for a license under this |
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section; and |
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(3) was, at the time of retiring from or leaving |
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military service: |
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(A) serving on active duty in this state; and |
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(B) authorized as a physician to treat persons |
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enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans. |
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(c) An applicant for a license under this section is not |
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required to have passed the Texas medical jurisprudence |
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examination. |
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(d) The board may not issue a license under this section to |
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an applicant who: |
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(1) holds a medical license or a license to prescribe, |
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dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that: |
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(A) is currently under active investigation; or |
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(B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or |
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action or to denial by another jurisdiction; or |
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(2) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication |
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community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under |
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active investigation for the commission of: |
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(A) a felony; or |
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(B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. |
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(e) A physician licensed under this section may practice |
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only in: |
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(1) a health professional shortage area, as defined by |
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Section 157.051; or |
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(2) a medically underserved community, as defined by |
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Section 487.201, Government Code. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 301.262 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 301.262. LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO PRACTICE IN |
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CERTAIN AREAS. (a) In this section, "active duty" and "armed |
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forces of the United States" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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55.001. |
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(b) The board shall issue a license to practice nursing in a |
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location described by Subsection (e) to an applicant who: |
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(1) is licensed in good standing as a nurse in another |
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state; |
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(2) is a veteran of the armed forces of the United |
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States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more |
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than one year before the application date for a license under this |
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section; and |
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(3) was, at the time of retiring from or otherwise |
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leaving military service: |
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(A) serving on active duty in this state; and |
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(B) authorized as a nurse to treat persons |
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enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans. |
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(c) An applicant for a license under this section is not |
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required to have passed the jurisprudence examination. |
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(d) The board may not issue a license under this section to |
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an applicant who: |
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(1) holds a nursing license or a license to prescribe, |
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dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that: |
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(A) is currently under active investigation; or |
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(B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or |
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action or to denial by another jurisdiction; or |
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(2) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication |
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community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under |
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active investigation for the commission of: |
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(A) a felony; or |
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(B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. |
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(e) A nurse licensed under this section may practice only |
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in: |
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(1) a health professional shortage area, as defined by |
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Section 157.051; or |
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(2) a medically underserved community, as defined by |
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Section 487.201, Government Code. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |