BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Many veterans have received top level training and experience in their occupational specialty during their military career. However, it is difficult for veterans to receive credit for their experience for occupational licensing purposes in Texas for the same work. Without receiving credit, veterans who have excelled for years in their military career must start from scratch in an apprenticeship program to receive a basic license. Service members should not have to wait years for an occupational license that was already well earned through real world military training experience.
H.B. 2254 amends the Occupations Code to require state agencies to adopt rules to provide credit towards occupational licenses which require an apprenticeship in fields relevant to a service member's training and experience in a military occupational specialty.
H.B. 2254 amends current law relating to apprenticeship requirements for occupational licenses issued to applicants with military experience.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to certain license-issuing state agencies in SECTION 2 (Section 55.005, Occupations Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Chapter 55, Occupations Code, to read as follows:
CHAPTER 55. LICENSE FOR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER OR MILITARY SPOUSE
SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 55, Occupations Code, by adding Section 55.005, as follows:
Sec. 55.005. APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANT WITH MILITARY EXPERIENCE. (a) Requires a state agency, notwithstanding any other law, if an apprenticeship is required for an occupational license issued by the state agency, to credit verified military service, training, or education that is relevant to the occupation toward the apprenticeship requirements for the license.
(b) Requires the state agency to adopt rules necessary to implement this section.
SECTION 3. Makes application of Section 55.005, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, prospective to May 1, 2014.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.