BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2738

By: Hernandez

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties express confusion regarding the manner in which hours of instruction are credited for certain barbering and cosmetology programs, specifically as to whether completed instruction is based on clock hours or credit hours. H.B. 2738 seeks to ensure consistency across the industry by providing for standards for determining the conversion between clock and credit hours.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2738 amends the Occupations Code to authorize the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules to authorize a school licensed under statutory provisions relating to barbers and cosmetologists to account for any hours of instruction completed under those provisions on the basis of clock hours or credit hours. The bill authorizes the commission to adopt rules to establish standards for determining the equivalency and conversion of clock hours to credit hours and credit hours to clock hours.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.