The bill amends the Occupations Code as it relates to the licensing of health care providers. The bill directs the Texas Medical Board and the Texas Board of Nursing to issue Texas licenses to veterans of the armed forces who possess licensure in good standing from another state and that meet additional specific criteria related to their military service and criminal records. The bill restricts the practice of physicians or nurses licensed under these provisions to health professional shortage areas or medically underserved communities as defined in statute.
The Texas Medical Board and the Board of Nursing anticipate that implementing the provisions within the bill would increase licensure activity which could result in additional costs to the agency. It is assumed that these costs associated with the bill's licensing of certain military veterans as health care providers to practice in underserved areas could be absorbed using existing agency resources.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.