Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 1342	House Author:  Leach et al.
Effective:  9-1-19	Senate Sponsor:  Hinojosa

            House Bill 1342 amends the Occupations Code to set out and revise provisions regarding the eligibility for certain occupational licenses for a person who has been convicted of an offense. The bill removes as grounds for disqualification for an occupational license a conviction for an offense that does not directly relate to the duties and responsibilities of the licensed occupation and that was committed less than five years before the date the person applies for the applicable license. Among other provisions, the bill requires a licensing authority to provide written notice and allow a person to submit relevant information to the authority before the authority may deny the person a license or the opportunity to be examined for a license based on the person's prior conviction of an offense. The bill requires the state auditor, in collaboration with licensing authorities, to develop a best practices guide for an applicant with a prior conviction to use when applying for a license and to publish the guide on the state auditor's website. The bill also provides for the issuance of restricted licenses for air conditioning and refrigeration contractors and electricians as an alternative to denying, revoking, suspending, or refusing to issue or renew a license under certain circumstances.