By: Frank 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; and                      (B)  authorized as a physician to treat persons   enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans;                (4)  was honorably discharged from military service;   and                (5)  has passed the Texas medical jurisprudence   examination.          (c)  The board may not issue a license under this section to   an applicant who:                (1)  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                (2)  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 D, Chapter 204, Occupations Code, is   amended by adding Section 204.159 to read as follows:          Sec. 204.159.  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 physician assistant board shall issue a license to   an applicant who:                (1)  is licensed in good standing as a physician   assistant 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; and                       (B)  authorized as a physician assistant to treat   persons enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or   veterans;                (4)  was honorably discharged  from military service;   and                (5)  has passed the jurisprudence examination.          (c)  The physician assistant board may not issue a license   under this section to an applicant who:                (1)  holds a physician assistant 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                (2)  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.  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; and                      (B)  authorized as a nurse to treat persons   enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans;                (4)  was honorably discharged from military service;   and                (5)  has passed the jurisprudence examination.          (c)  The board may not issue a license under this section to   an applicant who:                (1)  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                (2)  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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.