88R27512 BEE-F     By: Frank, Jetton, Morales of Maverick H.B. No. 1340       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the 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.  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 license to practice medicine in   a location described by Subsection (d) 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.          (d)  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.          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 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 license to practice nursing in a   location described by Subsection (d) 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.          (d)  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.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.