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AN ACT
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relating to the licensing and regulation of military optometrists |
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and therapeutic optometrists who provide voluntary charity care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 351, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 351.266 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 351.266. MILITARY LIMITED VOLUNTEER LICENSE. (a) The |
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board shall adopt rules relating to the issuance of a military |
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limited volunteer license under this section. |
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(b) The board may issue a military limited volunteer license |
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to practice optometry or therapeutic optometry to an applicant who: |
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(1) is licensed and in good standing, or was licensed |
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and retired in good standing, as an optometrist or therapeutic |
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optometrist in another state; |
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(2) is or was authorized as an optometrist or |
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therapeutic optometrist to treat personnel enlisted in a branch of |
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the United States armed forces or veterans; and |
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(3) meets any other requirement prescribed by board |
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rule. |
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(c) The board may not issue a license under this section to |
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an applicant who: |
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(1) holds an optometry or therapeutic optometry |
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license that: |
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(A) is currently under active investigation; or |
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(B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or |
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action or to denial by another jurisdiction; |
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(2) holds a license to prescribe, dispense, |
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administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that: |
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(A) is currently under active investigation; or |
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(B) is or was subject to a disciplinary order or |
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action or to denial by another jurisdiction; or |
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(3) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication |
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community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under |
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active investigation for the commission of: |
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(A) a felony; or |
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(B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. |
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(d) An optometrist or therapeutic optometrist may practice |
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optometry or therapeutic optometry under a license issued under |
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this section only at a clinic that primarily treats indigent |
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patients. The optometrist or therapeutic optometrist may not |
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directly or indirectly receive compensation or anything of monetary |
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value for optometric services rendered at the clinic. |
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(e) A military limited volunteer license holder is subject |
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to board rules, including rules regarding disciplinary action, |
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license registration and renewal, and continuing medical |
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education. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2933 was passed by the House on April |
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20, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2933 was passed by the Senate on May |
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18, 2017, by a viva-voce vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |