By Harris of Tarrant S.B. No. 117 74R326 MJW-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to loss of a state professional license for failure to pay 1-3 child support. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 14, Family Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Section 14.53 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 14.53. LICENSE REVOCATION. (a) The attorney general, 1-8 a private attorney representing an obligee, or the obligee may 1-9 petition a licensing agency for revocation of an obligor's license 1-10 because of the obligor's child support delinquency. Not later than 1-11 the 30th day after the date on which the agency receives the 1-12 petition, the agency shall convene an administrative hearing to 1-13 determine if the obligor is 30 or more days delinquent. After 1-14 notice and opportunity for hearing, the licensing agency shall 1-15 revoke the obligor's license unless the obligor provides evidence 1-16 that an arrearage does not exist or that an agreement to pay 1-17 arrearages has been approved by the court of continuing 1-18 jurisdiction. A licensing agency may not reinstate a license 1-19 revoked under this subsection unless the obligor provides proof of 1-20 full payment of all arrearages or proof that an agreement to pay 1-21 the arrearages has been approved by the court of continuing 1-22 jurisdiction. 1-23 (b) Each applicant for a license or license renewal shall 1-24 state in writing under oath at the time of application that the 2-1 applicant is not 30 or more days delinquent in providing child 2-2 support or that the applicant is in compliance with a written 2-3 repayment agreement or court order regarding a delinquency. 2-4 (c) The attorney general shall adopt rules to implement this 2-5 section. 2-6 (d) In this section: 2-7 (1) "License" means a permit, certificate, or similar 2-8 form of permission issued by a licensing agency that is required by 2-9 law to: 2-10 (A) engage in a profession or occupation; or 2-11 (B) sell a regulated commodity. 2-12 (2) "Licensing agency" means a board, commission, 2-13 department, or other agency in the executive or judicial branch of 2-14 state government that issues or renews a license either directly or 2-15 through a private entity. 2-16 SECTION 2. The change in law made by Section 14.53, Family 2-17 Code, as added by this Act, relating to withholding a license or 2-18 license renewal from a delinquent child support obligor, applies to 2-19 the disposition of an application for a license or license renewal 2-20 on or after the effective date of this Act without regard to 2-21 whether the obligor applies for the license or license renewal 2-22 before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. 2-23 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 2-24 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-26 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-27 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.