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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain information concerning an applicant for certain |
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occupational licenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 59, Occupations Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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CHAPTER 59. INFORMATION REGARDING LICENSE APPLICANT [RELATING TO
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LICENSING] |
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Sec. 59.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "License" means a license, certificate, |
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registration, permit, or other authorization that: |
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(A) is issued by a licensing authority; and |
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(B) a person must obtain to practice or engage in |
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a particular business, occupation, or profession. |
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(2) "Licensing authority" means a department, |
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commission, board, office, or other agency of the state that issues |
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a license. The term includes the Supreme Court of Texas. |
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Sec. 59.002. IMMIGRATION STATUS OF APPLICANT. A licensing |
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authority may not consider the immigration status of an applicant |
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for a license in determining whether to issue or renew the license. |
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Sec. 59.003. TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. A licensing |
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authority that requires an applicant for a license to submit the |
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applicant's social security number shall accept as a substitute for |
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the social security number the applicant's individual taxpayer |
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identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. |
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Sec. 59.004. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION |
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[SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER]. (a) Except as provided by Subsection |
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(b), the [The] social security number or individual taxpayer |
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identification number of an applicant for or holder of a license[,
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certificate of registration, or other legal authorization] issued |
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by a licensing authority [agency to practice in a specific
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occupation or profession] that is provided to the licensing |
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authority [agency] is confidential and not subject to disclosure |
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under Chapter 552, Government Code. |
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(b) A licensing authority may share with a regulatory agency |
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of another state the individual taxpayer identification number of |
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an applicant for or holder of a license if: |
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(1) the licensing authority requires an applicant to |
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pass a national examination as part of the license eligibility |
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requirements; and |
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(2) a reciprocity agreement exists with the other |
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state. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Chapter 59, Occupations Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to an application for an original or renewal |
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license submitted on or after February 1, 2016. An application |
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submitted before February 1, 2016, is governed by the law in effect |
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on the date the application was submitted, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(b) Not later than January 1, 2016, each licensing |
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authority, as that term is defined by Section 59.001, Occupations |
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Code, as amended by this Act, shall adopt rules and prescribe forms |
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necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act to |
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Chapter 59, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |