BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 1240

By: Van de Putte

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

When a military service member moves to Texas, career considerations play a significant role in that military family's quality of life.

 

S.B. 1240 requires a state agency to issue a temporary license in an expedited fashion to an applicant who is an active-duty member of the military, an honorably discharged veteran who has been separated for less than a year, or the spouse of a person serving on active duty as a member of the military.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to a state agency that issues a license in SECTION 2 (Section 55.004, Occupations Code) of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS

 

SB 1240 amends Chapter 55, Occupations Code, by amending the heading of the chapter and adding Section 55.004.  The heading of Chapter 55, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: CHAPTER 55.  LICENSING OF MILITARY MEMBER OR MILITARY SPOUSE. 

 

SB 1240 amends Chapter 55, Occupations Code, by adding Section 55.004, to define "military" and require a state agency that issues a license to adopt rules for the expedited issuance of a temporary license to an applicant who is serving on active duty as a member of the military, was honorably discharged from active duty as a member of the military not more than one year before the date of the application, or is the spouse of a person who is serving on active duty as a member of the military.  Further, it requires the state agency to issue the temporary license under this section to a qualified applicant who submits an application on a form prescribed by the agency and pays the required fees.

 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2009.