BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2856
79R9775 JMM-F By: Uresti (Ellis)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The career counseling services law was originally passed in 1987 to protect the consumer by monitoring the services of career services providers in the State of Texas, but the law includes no mechanism for quality control. No provisions or guidelines exist for assessing the qualifications, background, or professional development of individuals who may become licensed.
Consumers are not protected by the current law, and may in fact be at greater risk because licensed career service providers do not have to meet requirements that ensure meaningful protection for potential clients. Repealing this law will remove a potentially misleading licensure law.
H.B. 2856 repeals the career counseling services law.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Repealer: Chapter 2502 (Career Counseling Services), Occupations Code.
SECTION 2. (a) Provides that a certificate of authority issued under Chapter 2502, Occupations Code, in effect on the effective date of this Act, expires on that date. Requires a bond filed or money deposited by the holder of a certificate of authority under Section 2502.053, Occupations Code, as that section existed before being repealed by this Act, to be returned to the certificate holder by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation not later than the 30th day after the effective date of this Act.
(b) Provides that a proceeding under Chapter 2502, Occupations Code, including a complaint investigation, disciplinary action, and administrative penalty proceeding, pending on the effective date of this Act, is terminated on that date.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.