BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 787

By: Hancock

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that certain license holders reentering the workforce after becoming parents should be afforded a reduced license application or reactivation fee to lighten the financial burden on these individuals whose primary job has been caring for their child. S.B. 787 seeks to make such a reduced fee available to a former license holder who became a parent by natural birth or adoption in the two-year period preceding the application date, provided the application is for the same type of license the person held immediately before the birth or adoption.

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 a state agency that issues an occupational license in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 787 amends the Occupations Code to require a state agency that issues an occupational license to adopt rules requiring that a reduced license application fee or reactivation fee, as applicable, not to exceed one-third of the amount of the usual fee, be charged to an applicant who became a parent by natural birth or adoption in the two-year period preceding the application date and held immediately before the birth or adoption an active license of the same type for which the person is applying. The bill authorizes the rules to require that an applicant submit an attestation or other documentation relating to the child's birth or adoption. The bill requires a state agency to adopt and implement the required rules not later than September 1, 2020.

S.B. 787 establishes that a state agency is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. The bill authorizes, but expressly does not require, the state agency to implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose if the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.