By: Bonnen of Brazoria, Cosper	H.B. No. 2933
	(Senate Sponsor - Taylor of Galveston)
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 24, 2017;
	May 4, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran
	Affairs & Border Security; May 11, 2017, reported favorably by the
	following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 11, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the licensing and regulation of military optometrists
	and therapeutic optometrists who provide voluntary charity care.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 351, Occupations Code, is
	amended by adding Section 351.266 to read as follows:
	Sec. 351.266.  MILITARY LIMITED VOLUNTEER LICENSE. (a) The
	board shall adopt rules relating to the issuance of a military
	limited volunteer license under this section.
	(b)  The board may issue a military limited volunteer license
	to practice optometry or therapeutic optometry to an applicant who:
	(1)  is licensed and in good standing, or was licensed
	and retired in good standing, as an optometrist or therapeutic
	optometrist in another state;
	(2)  is or was authorized as an optometrist or
	therapeutic optometrist to treat personnel enlisted in a branch of
	the United States armed forces or veterans; and
	(3)  meets any other requirement prescribed by board
	rule.
	(c)  The board may not issue a license under this section to
	an applicant who:
	(1)  holds an optometry or therapeutic optometry
	license 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;
	(2)  holds 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)  An optometrist or therapeutic optometrist may practice
	optometry or therapeutic optometry under a license issued under
	this section only at a clinic that primarily treats indigent
	patients. The optometrist or therapeutic optometrist may not
	directly or indirectly receive compensation or anything of monetary
	value for optometric services rendered at the clinic.
	(e)  A military limited volunteer license holder is subject
	to board rules, including rules regarding disciplinary action,
	license registration and renewal, and continuing medical
	education.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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