89R18104 AND-D
 
  By: Frank H.B. No. 879
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 879:
 
  By:  VanDeaver C.S.H.B. No. 879
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the licensing of certain military veterans as health
  care providers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 155.012 to read as follows:
         Sec. 155.012.  LICENSING OF CERTAIN MILITARY VETERANS. (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 license to practice medicine 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;
               (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; and
               (4)  has passed the Texas medical jurisprudence
  examination.
         (c)  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 another 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.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 301.262 to read as follows:
         Sec. 301.262.  LICENSING OF CERTAIN MILITARY VETERANS. (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 license to practice nursing 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;
               (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; and
               (4)  has passed the jurisprudence examination.
         (c)  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 another 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.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.