LICENSING OF CERTAIN MILITARY VETERANS.

(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 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; and

(B) authorized as a nurse to treat persons enlisted in the armed forces of the United States or veterans;

(4) was honorably discharged from military service; and

(5) has passed the jurisprudence examination.

(c) The board may not issue a license under this section to an applicant who:

(1) 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

(2) 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.