83R3178 MAW-F
 
  By: Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 798
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain actions taken by certain licensing authorities
  regarding a license holder or applicant who has been convicted of a
  Class C misdemeanor.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 53.021(a), Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A licensing authority may suspend or revoke a license,
  disqualify a person from receiving a license, or deny to a person
  the opportunity to take a licensing examination on the grounds that
  the person has been convicted of an offense, other than an offense
  punishable as a Class C misdemeanor, that:
               (1)  [an offense that] directly relates to the duties
  and responsibilities of the licensed occupation;
               (2)  [an offense that] does not directly relate to the
  duties and responsibilities of the licensed occupation and that was
  committed less than five years before the date the person applies
  for the license;
               (3)  is [an offense] listed in Section 3g, Article
  42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
               (4)  is a sexually violent offense, as defined by
  Article 62.001, Code of Criminal Procedure.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to an
  application for, or a disciplinary proceeding regarding, a license
  or other authorization that is pending with a licensing authority
  on the effective date of this Act or an application filed or a
  disciplinary proceeding commenced on or after that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.