HBA-SEP H.B. 2475 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2475
By: Kolkhorst
Agriculture & Livestock
7/10/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law authorizes the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
(board) to grant special licenses to specified individuals who have not met
certain performance requirements necessary to receive a regular license to
practice in Texas.  These licenses were generally provided to veterinarians
who were licensed in other states but preferred not to take the Texas
licensing examination.  Some veterinary programs at institutions of higher
education are having difficulty filling positions on their staffs because
private specialty veterinary practices can pay these specialists more.
Graduates of foreign veterinary colleges who currently have to complete a
program maintained by the American Veterinary Medical Association to
practice may be willing to fill these vacant positions if granted the
requisite license.  House Bill 2475 provides that an applicant is eligible
for a special license issued by the board if the applicant has agreed to
fill a position that is a critical staffing need at an institution and
provides to the board a written affirmation that the applicant is qualified
by education or training to receive a special license. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2475 amends the Occupations Code to provide that an applicant is
eligible for a special license issued by the State Board of Veterinary
Medical Examiners (board) if the applicant has agreed to fill a position
that is a critical staffing need at an institution and provides to the
board a written affirmation that the applicant is certified by a nationally
recognized veterinary specialty board or is eligible for that
certification.  The bill authorizes the dean of a board-approved veterinary
medicine program at an institution of higher education in this state, the
executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission, or the executive
director of the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory to provide
the written statement.  
EFFECTIVE DATE

June 15, 2001.