BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3358

By: Cosper

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties have indicated that the process for the issuance of licenses for a nurse licensed in another state who moves to Texas as the spouse of an active military service member is prolonged and poses undue financial burdens and other difficulties on military families transferred into the state. In an effort to alleviate those burdens, H.B. 3358 seeks to require the Texas Board of Nursing to establish procedures to expedite both the issuance of a temporary license by endorsement and the processing of an application for a permanent license to practice as a nurse or vocational nurse in Texas for an applicant who is licensed as such a nurse by another state and who is the spouse of a person who is serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3358 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Board of Nursing to establish procedures to expedite the issuance of a temporary license by endorsement to practice as a registered nurse or vocational nurse, as applicable, and the processing of an application for a permanent license to practice as such a nurse for an applicant who is licensed as a registered nurse or vocational nurse by another state and who is the spouse of a person who is serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces. The bill requires the board to specify in the procedures the appropriate documentation to establish an applicant's status as a spouse of such a person.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.