BILL ANALYSIS
By: Uresti
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Career Counseling Services' law was originally passed in 1987 to protect the consumer by monitoring the services of career service providers in the state of Texas; however, the law includes no mechanism for quality control. There are no provisions or guidelines made for assessing the qualifications, background, or professional development of individuals who may become licensed.
Consumers are not protected by the current law, and in fact, may 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 chapter of the Occupations Code.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2856 repeals Chapter 2502 of the Texas Occupations Code. Provides that certificates issued under this code expire on the effective date of the bill, September 1, 2005. Requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to return a bond filed or money deposited by a certificate holder no later than the 30th day after the effective date. Provides that all other proceedings pertaining to Chapter 2502 are terminated on the effective date of the bill.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Immediately, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, then the Act takes effect September 1, 2005.