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House Bill 461 |
House Author: Eissler et al. |
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Effective: See below |
Senate Sponsor: Huffman et al. |
House Bill 461 amends the Occupations Code to create a dyslexia practitioner license and a dyslexia therapist license and prohibits a person from using the title "licensed dyslexia practitioner" or "licensed dyslexia therapist" in Texas as of September 1, 2010, unless the person holds the appropriate license. The bill provides for the regulation and administration of the licenses by the Department of State Health Services, requires the department to appoint an advisory committee on administration not later than November 1, 2009, and requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt certain rules necessary to administer and enforce licensing requirements not later than June 1, 2010. The bill provides for the application for and issuance of a license and sets forth specific educational and training requirements a person must meet to be eligible for a license. The bill establishes requirements for a multisensory structured language education training program and also establishes competency examination requirements. The bill requires the executive commissioner, in consultation with the advisory committee, to establish continuing education requirements. The bill sets out provisions relating to license denial and complaint and disciplinary procedures. The bill authorizes the department to deny, suspend, or revoke a license under certain conditions and establishes procedures for administrative hearings related to an appeal of a license denial, revocation, or suspension. The bill sets forth provisions relating to penalties and enforcement procedures for violations.
House Bill 461 creates an interim committee to study and recommend legislation to increase awareness of early detection and treatment of dyslexia and related disorders. The bill provides study requirements and provides for the composition, election of a presiding officer, and report on the findings of the interim committee. Provisions relating to the interim committee expire September 1, 2011. Provisions relating to license denial and complaint and disciplinary procedures and provisions providing penalties and enforcement procedures take effect September 1, 2010. Except as otherwise provided, the bill's provisions take effect September 1, 2009.