bill fast-tracking licenses for recently separated military doctors and nurses

The text as introduced · 609 words

89R16979 TYPED

By: Hagenbuch
S.B. No. 1787

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 C, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Section 155.108 to read as follows:

Sec. 155.108. LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO PRACTICE

MEDICINE. (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. LICENSE FOR MILITARY VETERAN TO PRACTICE

MEDICINE. (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.