77R8905 GJH-F                           
         By Kolkhorst                                          H.B. No. 2475
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2475:
         By Hardcastle                                     C.S.H.B. No. 2475
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 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.