By: Frank, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Blanco) H.B. No. 548
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2021;
  May 4, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran
  Affairs & Border Security; May 20, 2021, reported adversely, with
  favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6,
  Nays 0; May 20, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 548 By:  Blanco
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the temporary licensing of certain military veterans as
  health care providers to practice in underserved areas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 155.108 to read as follows:
         Sec. 155.108.  TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO
  PRACTICE IN CERTAIN AREAS. (a) In this section, "active duty" and
  "armed forces of the United States" have the meanings assigned by
  Section 55.001.
         (b)  The board shall issue a temporary license to practice
  medicine in a location described by Subsection (e) to an applicant
  who:
               (1)  is licensed in good standing as a physician in
  another state;
               (2)  is a veteran of the armed forces of the United
  States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more
  than one year before the application date for a license under this
  section; and
               (3)  was, at the time of retiring from or leaving
  military service:
                     (A)  serving on active duty in this state; and
                     (B)  authorized as a physician to treat persons
  enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans.
         (c)  An applicant for a license under this section is not
  required to have passed the Texas medical jurisprudence
  examination.
         (d)  The board may not issue a license under this section to
  an applicant who:
               (1)  was discharged or separated from the armed forces
  of the United States:
                     (A)  on the basis of substandard conduct; or
                     (B)  for any act of misconduct or moral or
  professional dereliction;
               (2)  holds a medical license or a license to prescribe,
  dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that:
                     (A)  is currently under active investigation; or
                     (B)  is or was subject to a disciplinary order or
  action or to denial by any jurisdiction; or
               (3)  has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication
  community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under
  active investigation for the commission of:
                     (A)  a felony; or
                     (B)  a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
         (e)  A physician licensed under this section may practice
  only in:
               (1)  a health professional shortage area, as defined by
  Section 157.051; or
               (2)  a medically underserved community, as defined by
  Section 487.201, Government Code.
         (f)  A license issued under this section:
               (1)  expires 18 months after the date the license was
  issued; and
               (2)  may not be renewed.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 301.262 to read as follows:
         Sec. 301.262.  TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO
  PRACTICE IN CERTAIN AREAS. (a) In this section, "active duty" and
  "armed forces of the United States" have the meanings assigned by
  Section 55.001.
         (b)  The board shall issue a temporary license to practice
  nursing in a location described by Subsection (e) to an applicant
  who:
               (1)  is licensed in good standing as a nurse in another
  state;
               (2)  is a veteran of the armed forces of the United
  States who retired from or otherwise left military service not more
  than one year before the application date for a license under this
  section; and
               (3)  was, at the time of retiring from or otherwise
  leaving military service:
                     (A)  serving on active duty in this state; and
                     (B)  authorized as a nurse to treat persons
  enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans.
         (c)  An applicant for a license under this section is not
  required to have passed the jurisprudence examination.
         (d)  The board may not issue a license under this section to
  an applicant who:
               (1)  was discharged or separated from the armed forces
  of the United States:
                     (A)  on the basis of substandard conduct; or
                     (B)  for any act of misconduct or moral or
  professional dereliction;
               (2)  holds a nursing license or a license to prescribe,
  dispense, administer, supply, or sell a controlled substance that:
                     (A)  is currently under active investigation; or
                     (B)  is or was subject to a disciplinary order or
  action or to denial by any jurisdiction; or
               (3)  has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication
  community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under
  active investigation for the commission of:
                     (A)  a felony; or
                     (B)  a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
         (e)  A nurse licensed under this section may practice only
  in:
               (1)  a health professional shortage area, as defined by
  Section 157.051; or
               (2)  a medically underserved community, as defined by
  Section 487.201, Government Code.
         (f)  A license issued under this section:
               (1)  expires 18 months after the date the license was
  issued; and
               (2)  may not be renewed.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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