Sec. 301.257.  DECLARATORY ORDER OF LICENSE ELIGIBILITY.  (a)  A person may petition the board for a declaratory order as to the person's eligibility for a license under this chapter if the person has reason to believe that the person is ineligible for the license and:
(1)  is enrolled or planning to enroll in an educational program that prepares a person for an initial license as a registered nurse or vocational nurse; or
(2)  is an applicant for a license.
(b)  The petition must state the basis for the person's potential ineligibility.
(c)  The board has the same powers to investigate the petition and the person's eligibility that it has to investigate a person applying for a license.
(d)  The petitioner or the board may amend the petition to include additional grounds for potential ineligibility at any time before a final determination is made.
(e)  If the board determines that a ground for ineligibility does not exist, instead of issuing an order, the board shall notify the petitioner in writing of the board's determination on each ground of potential ineligibility.  If the board proposes to find that the petitioner is ineligible for a license, the petitioner is entitled to a hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
(f)  The board's order must set out each basis for potential ineligibility and the board's determination as to eligibility.  In the absence of new evidence known to but not disclosed by the petitioner or not reasonably available to the board at the time the order is issued, the board's ruling on the petition determines the person's eligibility with respect to the grounds for potential ineligibility set out in the written notice or order.
(g)  The board may require an individual accepted for enrollment or enrolled in an educational program preparing a student for initial licensure as a registered nurse or vocational nurse to submit information to the board to permit the board to determine whether the person is aware of the conditions that may disqualify the person from licensure as a registered nurse or vocational nurse on graduation and of the person's right to petition the board for a declaratory order under this section.  Instead of requiring the person to submit the information, the board may require the educational program to collect and submit the information on each person accepted for enrollment or enrolled in the program.
(h)  The information required under Subsection (g) must be submitted in a form approved by the board.
(i)  If, as a result of information provided under Subsection (g), the board determines that a person may not be eligible for a license on graduation, the board shall notify the educational program of its determination.
(j)  The board may file a petition under this section based on the results of a criminal history record information check conducted under Section 301.2511.  The board by rule shall adopt requirements for the petition and determination under this subsection.  The rules must:
(1)  identify the criminal offenses that constitute grounds for the board to file the petition; and
(2)  describe the documents required by the board to make a determination of license eligibility.
(k)  The board shall make a determination of license eligibility under Subsection (j) not later than the 120th day after the date the person submits the required documents to the board under that subsection.
(l)  The board may require in a declaratory order under this section that a person begin participation in a peer assistance program at the time of receipt of an initial license under this chapter.  The board shall notify the person that, on issuance of the person's initial license, the person may request reevaluation of the person's required participation in the peer assistance program.
(m)  The board by rule shall develop a process to determine whether a person should continue to be required to participate in a peer assistance program.  In making the determination, the board shall:
(1)  review the person's criminal history record information and, if applicable, determine whether participation in the program is warranted based on the time that has elapsed since the conviction or end of community supervision;
(2)  reevaluate or require a contractor administering a peer assistance program to reevaluate the treatment plan or the time the person is required to participate in the peer assistance program based on the person's individualized needs; and
(3)  authorize, as appropriate, a waiver of peer assistance program completion if the board is satisfied the person has achieved a satisfactory period of treatment or documented sobriety, as defined by board rules, and continued participation is not necessary.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.123(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 553, Sec. 1.018, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 999 (H.B. 3961), Sec. 8, eff. June 19, 2009.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1189 (S.B. 1058), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 509 (H.B. 2950), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2017.