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.