Relating to the physician assistant licensure compact; authorizing a fee.

SB 1609 establishes Texas's participation in the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, enabling physician assistants licensed in Texas to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. Under the compact, a physician assistant must be licensed in the state where the patient is located during a medical encounter, and the agreement includes mutual recognition of licenses and procedures for handling adverse actions like license suspensions. The bill authorizes a fee to cover the administrative costs of maintaining the compact. This directly affects physician assistants seeking cross-state practice, particularly benefiting military families who can maintain licensure when relocating without reapplying.