By Kolkhorst H.B. No. 2475
77R7496 GJH-D
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 Subsections (f) and (g) to read
1-7 as 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 statement
1-15 described under Subsection (f) that the applicant is qualified by
1-16 education or training to receive a special license; and
1-17 (2) the applicant passes the jurisprudence section of
1-18 the licensing examination.
1-19 (f) A person described by Subsection (g) may provide a
1-20 statement under Subsection (b)(1)(B) for an applicant who has
1-21 agreed to fill a position that is a critical staffing need at the
1-22 person's institution.
1-23 (g) The following people may provide a statement under
1-24 Subsection (b)(1)(B):
2-1 (1) the dean of a board-approved veterinary medicine
2-2 program at an institution of higher education in this state;
2-3 (2) the executive director of the Texas Animal Health
2-4 Commission; or
2-5 (3) the executive director of the Texas Veterinary
2-6 Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.
2-7 SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a license application
2-8 under Chapter 801, Occupations Code, that is filed on or after the
2-9 effective date of this Act. An application filed before the
2-10 effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
2-11 immediately before the effective date of this Act.
2-12 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-13 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-14 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-15 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-16 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.