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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of certain documentation before a person |
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may engage in a licensed occupation; providing a criminal penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 2, Occupations Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 60 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 60. PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP OR AUTHORIZATION TO WORK REQUIRED |
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Sec. 60.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "License" means a license, certificate, |
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registration, permit, or other authorization that: |
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(A) is issued by a licensing authority; and |
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(B) an individual must obtain to practice or |
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engage in a particular business, occupation, or profession. |
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(2) "Licensing authority" means a department, |
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commission, board, office, or other agency of the state that issues |
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a license. |
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Sec. 60.002. EXCEPTION. This chapter does not apply to a |
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license issued under Section 2052.107(1). |
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Sec. 60.003. PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP OR AUTHORIZATION TO WORK |
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REQUIRED. An individual who is licensed to practice or engage in a |
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particular business, occupation, or profession may engage in that |
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work under the license only after the license holder provides to the |
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licensing authority documentation that the license holder is: |
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(1) a citizen of the United States; or |
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(2) lawfully present in the United States and |
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authorized to engage in the work authorized under the license. |
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Sec. 60.004. SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTATION. (a) Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b), a license holder shall submit the |
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documentation required by Section 60.003 to the appropriate |
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licensing authority at the time of an application for the issuance |
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or renewal of the license. |
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(b) An applicant who submits an application through the |
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TexasOnline system or another electronic means shall submit the |
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documentation required by Section 60.003 not later than the 30th |
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day after the date the application is submitted electronically. |
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(c) Each licensing authority by rule shall prescribe forms |
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and procedures by which a license holder may submit the |
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documentation required by Section 60.003. |
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Sec. 60.005. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) An individual commits |
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an offense if the individual violates this chapter. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "License" means a license, certificate, |
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registration, permit, or other authorization that: |
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(A) is issued by a licensing authority; and |
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(B) an individual must obtain to practice or |
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engage in a particular business, occupation, or profession. |
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(2) "Licensing authority" means a department, |
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commission, board, office, or other agency of this state that |
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issues a license. |
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(b) Each licensing authority shall adopt rules under |
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Chapter 60, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, not later than |
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January 1, 2012. |
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(c) The change in law made by this Act applies only to an |
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application for the issuance or renewal of a license that is filed |
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with a licensing authority on or after March 1, 2012. An |
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application for the issuance or renewal of a license that is filed |
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before March 1, 2012, is governed by the law in effect on the date |
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the application was filed, and the former law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |