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


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2475
By: Kolkhorst
Agriculture & Livestock
3/19/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law authorizes the Texas 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 certain 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 the person's
institution and provides to the board a written statement 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 the person's institution and provides
to the board a written statement that the applicant is qualified by
education or training to receive a special license.  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

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.