AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under the authority of Chapter 51 (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation), Occupations Code, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) oversees over 150 individual license types and 650,000 licensees, including barbers, cosmetologists, electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration contractors, and elevator inspectors.

 

Section 51.207 (Use of Technology), Occupations Code, instructs TDLR to develop technological policy solutions "to improve the department's ability to perform its functions," which include providing information to the public and its licensees.  Such solutions must be cost-effective to promote responsible governance. 

 

In keeping with the objectives of Section 51.207, Occupations Code, S.B. 845 provides TDLR with the ability to deliver better service by providing relevant information to the public and to licensees through its Internet website and by using e-mail communications in a greater capacity. 

 

S.B. 845 instructs TDLR to provide a link on its website to another Internet website, such as "Texas Legislature Online," that would allow the public to easily track legislation that could affect TDLR's regulatory programs.  S.B. 845 also authorizes TDLR to use e-mail communications to satisfy any of its notice requirements, provided that the applicable recipient has authorized TDLR to use e-mail for this purpose.

 

S.B. 845 amends current law relating to the use of e-mail and website technology by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 51.207, Occupations Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 51.207.  USE OF TECHNOLOGY.  (a) Creates this subsection from existing text.  Makes no further change to this subsection.

 

(b) Requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to provide on its Internet website a link to an Internet website that allows the public to track legislation affecting the programs administered by TDLR, which is authorized to be a website that provides legislative information administered by the Texas Legislature.

 

(c) Authorizes TDLR to satisfy any requirement under this chapter (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) or another law governing a program subject to regulation by TDLR to provide notice by delivering the notice by e-mail to the recipient's last known e-mail address if the recipient has previously authorized TDLR to deliver the notice by e-mail.  Provides that an e-mail address used under this subsection is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552 (Public Information), Government Code.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2013.