1-1 By: Kolkhorst (Senate Sponsor - Ogden) H.B. No. 2475
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 2, 2001;
1-3 May 3, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on State
1-4 Affairs; May 10, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 10, 2001, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to eligibility for a special license issued by the State
1-9 Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 801.256, Occupations Code, is amended by
1-12 amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read as
1-13 follows:
1-14 (b) An applicant is eligible for a special license if:
1-15 (1) the applicant:
1-16 (A) is[:]
1-17 [(A)] at least 21 years of age[;] and
1-18 [(B)] a graduate of a board-approved veterinary
1-19 medicine program at an institution of higher education; or
1-20 (B) provides to the board a written affirmation
1-21 by a person described under Subsection (f) that the applicant meets
1-22 a critical need for staffing at the person's institution and is
1-23 certified by a nationally recognized veterinary speciality board or
1-24 is eligible for that certification; and
1-25 (2) the applicant passes the jurisprudence section of
1-26 the licensing examination.
1-27 (f) The following people may provide a statement under
1-28 Subsection (b)(1)(B):
1-29 (1) the dean of a board-approved veterinary medicine
1-30 program at an institution of higher education in this state;
1-31 (2) the executive director of the Texas Animal Health
1-32 Commission; or
1-33 (3) the executive director of the Texas Veterinary
1-34 Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.
1-35 SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a license application
1-36 under Chapter 801, Occupations Code, that is filed on or after the
1-37 effective date of this Act. An application filed before the
1-38 effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
1-39 immediately before the effective date of this Act.
1-40 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-41 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-42 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
1-43 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-44 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-45 * * * * *