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House Bill 963 |
House Author: Guillen |
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Effective: 6-19-09 |
Senate Sponsor: Whitmire |
House Bill 963 amends the Occupations Code to authorize a person to request a criminal history evaluation letter from a licensing authority regarding the person's eligibility for a license issued by that authority if the person is enrolled or planning to enroll in an educational program that prepares a person for an initial license or is planning to take an examination for an initial license and has reason to believe that the person is ineligible for the license because of a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense. The bill sets forth requirements regarding the request and provisions relating to an authority's power to investigate a request. The bill sets forth requirements concerning notification of the requestor of the authority's determination of eligibility and authorizes the authority to charge requestors a fee to cover administrative costs.
House Bill 963 expands the grounds for license suspension or revocation, disqualification for a license, or denial of an opportunity to take a licensing examination to include a conviction of any of the following offenses: an offense that does not directly relate to the duties of the licensed occupation and that was committed less than five years before the date of the person's license application; an offense for which a person is not eligible for judge-ordered community supervision; or a sexually violent offense. The bill sets forth provisions regarding the licensing of certain applicants with prior criminal convictions, including provisions relating to the issuance of a provisional license.