SRC-TBR S.B. 1212 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1212
77R4516 SMH-DBy: Zaffirini
Health & Human Services
4/1/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there are inconsistencies is state law regarding the Licensed
Chemical Dependency Counselors exam.  As proposed, S.B. 1212 clears up this
inconsistency to the law to help in recruiting more qualified counselors. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 504.157, Occupations Code, by amending
Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) as follows: 

(c)  Provides that an applicant who fails any part of the examination may
retake the part of the examination the applicant failed on payment of the
required examination fee.  Provides that except as provided by Subsection
(d), an applicant must pass each part of the examination within four
attempts. 

(d)  Requires an applicant who has failed any part of the examination four
times to provide evidence to the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
(commission) that the applicant has successfully completed at least 25
hours of remedial college coursework or its equivalent as determined by the
commission.  Provides that an applicant who satisfies that requirement may
take the part of the examination the applicant failed three additional
times. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that the change in law made by this Act to Section
504.157, Occupations Code, applies to a person whose first attempt to pass
an examination under Section 504.156, Occupations Code, occurs before, on,
or after the effective date of this Act.  A person who failed an
examination or part of an examination under Section 504.156, Occupations
Code, before the effective date of this Act may take subsequent
examinations as provided by Section 504.157, Occupations Code, as amended
by this Act. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.