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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain requirements for the issuance of an |
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occupational license to persons licensed in other jurisdictions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 55, Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 55. EXPEDITED AND ALTERNATIVE LICENSING OF CERTAIN |
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INDIVIDUALS [LICENSING OF MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, MILITARY
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VETERANS, AND MILITARY SPOUSES] |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 55, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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designating Sections 55.001 through 55.003 and 55.005 through |
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55.009 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter heading to read as |
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follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER A. EXPEDITED LICENSING OF MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, |
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MILITARY VETERANS, AND MILITARY SPOUSES |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 55, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter B, and a heading is added to that subchapter to |
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read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. ALTERNATIVE LICENSING BASED ON SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR |
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LICENSING REQUIREMENTS |
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SECTION 4. Sections 55.004 and 55.010, Occupations Code, |
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are transferred to Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Occupations Code, as |
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added by this Act, redesignated as Sections 55.101 and 55.102, |
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Occupations Code, and amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 55.101 [55.004]. ALTERNATIVE LICENSING FOR |
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SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT LICENSES FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS |
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[MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, MILITARY VETERANS, AND MILITARY
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SPOUSES]. (a) A state agency that issues a license shall adopt |
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rules for the issuance of the license to an applicant who [is a
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military service member, military veteran, or military spouse and]: |
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(1) holds a current license issued by another |
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jurisdiction that has licensing requirements that are |
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substantially equivalent to the requirements for the license in |
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this state; or |
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(2) within the five years preceding the application |
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date held the license in this state. |
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(b) The executive director of a state agency may waive any |
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prerequisite to obtaining a license for an applicant described by |
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Subsection (a) after reviewing the applicant's credentials. |
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(c) In addition to the rules adopted under Subsection (a), a |
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state agency that issues a license may adopt rules that would |
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establish alternate methods for an applicant [a military service
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member, military veteran, or military spouse] to demonstrate |
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competency to meet the requirements for obtaining the license. |
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Sec. 55.102 [55.010]. NOTICE; REPOSITORY OF SUBSTANTIALLY |
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EQUIVALENT LICENSES [OF CHAPTER PROVISIONS]. (a) A state agency |
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that issues a license shall prominently post a notice on the home |
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page of the agency's Internet website describing the provisions of |
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this chapter that are available to military service members, |
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military veterans, and military spouses. |
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(b) A state agency that issues a license under rules adopted |
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under Section 55.101 shall notify the Texas Workforce Commission |
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immediately on determining that the requirements of a license of |
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this state are substantially equivalent to those of another |
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jurisdiction. |
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(c) The Texas Workforce Commission shall prominently post |
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on the commission's Internet website a list of each license of this |
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state and license of another jurisdiction that is determined by a |
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state agency to be substantially equivalent. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Section 55.101, Occupations Code, as |
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transferred, redesignated, and amended by this Act, applies only to |
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an application for a license filed with a state agency, as defined |
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by Section 55.001, Occupations Code, on or after March 1, 2020. An |
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application for a license filed before March 1, 2020, is governed by |
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the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, |
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and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(b) Each state agency as defined by Section 55.001, |
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Occupations Code, shall adopt rules under Section 55.101, |
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Occupations Code, as transferred, redesignated, and amended by this |
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Act, not later than January 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |