BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 242

By: Carona

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recently enacted legislation requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to credit verified military air conditioning and refrigeration experience toward applicable licensing eligibility requirements.  Interested parties report that, since this requirement was implemented, at least five applicants have claimed the military service credit. These parties assert that a similar program could provide benefits to veterans who seek to utilize their military experience in other civilian careers. S.B. 242 seeks to expand the practice of crediting military service to occupational licensing requirements by requiring TDLR to credit verified military service, training, or education toward the occupational licenses that TDLR oversees.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTIONS 1 and 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 242 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to credit verified military service, training, or education toward the licensing requirements, other than examination requirements, for a license issued by TDLR. The bill's provisions apply only to an application for a license filed with TDLR on or after May 1, 2014.  The bill requires the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions not later than March 1, 2014.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.