1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to eligibility for a special license issued by the State
1-3 Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 801.256, Occupations Code, is amended by
1-6 amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read as
1-7 follows:
1-8 (b) An applicant is eligible for a special license if:
1-9 (1) the applicant:
1-10 (A) is[:]
1-11 [(A)] at least 21 years of age[;] and
1-12 [(B)] a graduate of a board-approved veterinary
1-13 medicine program at an institution of higher education; or
1-14 (B) provides to the board a written affirmation
1-15 by a person described under Subsection (f) that the applicant meets
1-16 a critical need for staffing at the person's institution and is
1-17 certified by a nationally recognized veterinary speciality board or
1-18 is eligible for that certification; and
1-19 (2) the applicant passes the jurisprudence section of
1-20 the licensing examination.
1-21 (f) The following people may provide a statement under
1-22 Subsection (b)(1)(B):
1-23 (1) the dean of a board-approved veterinary medicine
1-24 program at an institution of higher education in this state;
2-1 (2) the executive director of the Texas Animal Health
2-2 Commission; or
2-3 (3) the executive director of the Texas Veterinary
2-4 Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.
2-5 SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a license application
2-6 under Chapter 801, Occupations Code, that is filed on or after the
2-7 effective date of this Act. An application filed before the
2-8 effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
2-9 immediately before the effective date of this Act.
2-10 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-11 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-12 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-13 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-14 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2475 was passed by the House on May
1, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2475 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor