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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the issuance of a license by the Texas Department of |
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Licensing and Regulation to certain out-of-state applicants; |
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authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.4043 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.4043. ISSUANCE OF LICENSE TO CERTAIN OUT-OF-STATE |
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APPLICANTS. (a) The department shall issue a license to an |
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applicant who pays any required fees and: |
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(1) holds a current license in good standing in |
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another state with a similar scope of practice, as determined by the |
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commission; |
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(2) has held the license for at least one year; |
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(3) was required to pass an examination or meet other |
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experience, education, or training requirements to obtain the |
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license; |
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(4) does not have a disqualifying criminal history as |
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determined by the commission; |
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(5) has not been subject to the revocation or |
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surrender of the license in any state due to negligence or |
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intentional misconduct in the performance of work under the |
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license; and |
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(6) is not currently the subject of a complaint or |
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investigation in the other state for an act that constitutes |
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unprofessional conduct or an offense. |
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(b) With respect to an application for a license under a |
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program regulated by the department submitted by an applicant from |
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another state that does not require a license to engage in the |
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activity for which the license is sought in this state, the |
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department shall consider the work experience of the applicant as |
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sufficient for the issuance of the license if the applicant: |
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(1) has engaged in the activity for at least three |
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years; and |
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(2) satisfies the requirements of Subsections (a)(4) |
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and (6). |
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(c) An applicant for a license under this section may be |
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required to pass a jurisprudence examination specific to the |
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relevant laws of this state applicable to the activities for which |
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the license is sought if a similar examination is required to obtain |
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the license for all other applicants. |
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(d) The department shall provide an applicant under this |
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section with a written decision regarding the application not later |
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than the 30th day after the date the application is submitted. |
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(e) The commission may impose a fee not to exceed $100 for an |
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application under this section. |
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(f) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Commission of Licensing and |
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Regulation shall adopt rules required by Section 51.4043, |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, |
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2026. |
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(b) Section 51.4043, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, |
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applies only to an application for a license submitted to the Texas |
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Department of Licensing and Regulation on or after February 1, |
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2026. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |