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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility requirements for occupational licenses |
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issued to applicants with military experience and to military |
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spouses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.4013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.4013. LICENSE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR |
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APPLICANTS WITH MILITARY EXPERIENCE. (a) Notwithstanding any other |
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law, the department shall credit verified military service, |
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training, or education toward the licensing requirements, other |
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than examination requirements, for a license issued by the |
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department. |
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(b) The department shall expedite the issuance of a |
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temporary license or a license by endorsement or reciprocity to an |
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applicant who: |
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(1) has verified military experience; and |
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(2) holds a current license issued by another |
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jurisdiction that has license requirements that are substantially |
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equivalent to the license requirements of this state. |
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(c) The commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Chapter 55, Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 55. LICENSE FOR [WHILE ON] MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER OR [DUTY
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AND FOR] MILITARY SPOUSE |
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SECTION 3. Section 55.004, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A state agency shall adopt rules to expedite the |
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issuance of a temporary license or a license by endorsement or |
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reciprocity to an applicant who: |
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(1) is the spouse of a person serving on active duty as |
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a member of the armed forces of the United States; and |
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(2) holds a current license issued by another |
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jurisdiction that has license requirements that are substantially |
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equivalent to the license requirements of this state. |
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SECTION 4. Chapter 55, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 55.005 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 55.005. LICENSE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR |
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APPLICANTS WITH MILITARY EXPERIENCE. (a) Notwithstanding any other |
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law, a state agency shall credit verified military service, |
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training, or education toward the licensing requirements, other |
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than examination requirements, for a license issued by the state |
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agency. |
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(b) The state agency shall expedite the issuance of a |
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temporary license or a license by endorsement or reciprocity to an |
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applicant who: |
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(1) has verified military experience; and |
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(2) holds a current license issued by another |
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jurisdiction that has license requirements that are substantially |
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equivalent to the license requirements of this state. |
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(c) The state agency shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Sections 51.4013, 55.004(d), and 55.005, |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act, apply only to an application |
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for an occupational license filed on or after May 1, 2014. An |
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application for a license filed before May 1, 2014, is governed by |
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the law in effect on the date the application was filed, and that |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(b) The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall |
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adopt rules under Section 51.4013, Occupations Code, as added by |
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this Act, and a state agency shall adopt rules under Sections |
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55.004(d) and 55.005, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, not |
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later than March 1, 2014. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |