84R2152 MAW-D

By: Israel H.B. No. 672

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain information concerning an applicant for certain occupational licenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 59, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 59. INFORMATION REGARDING LICENSE APPLICANT [RELATING TO

LICENSING]

Sec. 59.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "License" means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other authorization that:

(A) is issued by a licensing authority; and

(B) a person must obtain to practice or engage in a particular business, occupation, or profession.

(2) "Licensing authority" means a department, commission, board, office, or other agency of the state that issues a license. The term includes the Supreme Court of Texas.

Sec. 59.002. IMMIGRATION STATUS OF APPLICANT. A licensing authority may not consider the immigration status of an applicant for a license in determining whether to issue or renew the license.

Sec. 59.003. TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. A licensing authority that requires an applicant for a license to submit the applicant's social security number shall accept as a substitute for the social security number the applicant's individual taxpayer identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

Sec. 59.004. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION [SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER]. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the [The] social security number or individual taxpayer identification number of an applicant for or holder of a license[, certificate of registration, or other legal authorization] issued by a licensing authority [agency to practice in a specific occupation or profession] that is provided to the licensing authority [agency] is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.

(b) A licensing authority may share with a regulatory agency of another state the individual taxpayer identification number of an applicant for or holder of a license if:

(1) the licensing authority requires an applicant to pass a national examination as part of the license eligibility requirements; and

(2) a reciprocity agreement exists with the other state.

SECTION 2. (a) Chapter 59, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to an application for an original or renewal license submitted on or after February 1, 2016. An application submitted before February 1, 2016, is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2016, each licensing authority, as that term is defined by Section 59.001, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, shall adopt rules and prescribe forms necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 59, Occupations Code.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.