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.