BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2933
85R8928 KKR-D	By: Bonnen, Dennis; Cosper (Zaffirini)
	Veteran Affairs & Border Security
	5/5/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Interested parties express concern over the inability of certain military optometrists who are not licensed in Texas to lawfully provide charitable care to other patient populations in Texas. H.B. 2933 seeks to address this concern by providing for the creation of a military limited volunteer license under which certain active or retired military optometrists and therapeutic optometrists who do not hold an appropriate license issued in Texas may provide care to certain underserved patients in Texas.

H.B. 2933 amends current law relating to the licensing and regulation of military optometrists and therapeutic optometrists who provide voluntary charity care.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Optometry Board in SECTION 1 (Section 351.266, Occupations Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 351, Occupations Code, by adding Section 351.266, as follows:

Sec. 351.266. MILITARY LIMITED VOLUNTEER LICENSE. (a) Requires the Texas Optometry Board (TOB) to adopt rules relating to the issuance of a military limited volunteer license (MLVL) under this section.

(b) Authorizes TOB to issue an MLVL to practice optometry or therapeutic optometry to an applicant who meets certain requirements prescribed by TOB rule.

(c) Prohibits TOB from issuing an MLVL under this section to an applicant who holds an optometry or therapeutic optometry license who is under investigation for certain violations or has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under active investigation for certain offenses.

(d) Authorizes an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist to practice optometry or therapeutic optometry under a license issued under this section only at a clinic that primarily treats indigent patients. Prohibits the optometrist or therapeutic optometrist from directly or indirectly receiving compensation or anything of monetary value for optometric services rendered at the clinic.

(e) Provides that an MLVL holder is subject to TOB rules, including rules regarding disciplinary action, license registration and renewal, and continuing medical education.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.