86R14323 SOS-D
 
  By: Buckley H.B. No. 4413
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to state occupational licensing of certain military
  service members, military veterans, and military spouses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.052, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a-1), (b-1), and (f) and adding Subsection
  (i) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  The commissioner may adopt rules establishing
  exceptions to the examination requirements prescribed by
  Subsection (a)(3) for an educator who is a military service member,
  military veteran, or military spouse or is from outside the state to
  obtain a certificate in this state.
         (b-1)  The board shall propose rules in accordance with
  Sections 55.005 and 55.006, Occupations Code, to establish
  procedures to expedite the processing of an application for a
  certificate under this section submitted by an educator who is a
  military service member, military veteran, or military [the] spouse
  [of a person who is serving on active duty as a member of the armed
  forces of the United States], including rules for providing a
  permanent change of station or military identification card [the
  appropriate documentation to establish the educator's status as a
  spouse of a person who is serving on active duty as a member of the
  armed forces of the United States].
         (f)  The board shall post on the board's Internet website the
  procedures for obtaining a certificate under Subsection (a) and the
  notice required under Section 55.010, Occupations Code.
         (i)  In this section:
               (1)  "Active duty" means current full-time military
  service in the armed forces of the United States or active duty
  military service as a member of the Texas military forces, as
  defined by Section 437.001, Government Code, or similar military
  service of another state.
               (2)  "Armed forces of the United States" means the
  army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United
  States or a reserve unit of one of those branches of the armed
  forces.
               (3)  "Military service member" means a person who is on
  active duty.
               (4)  "Military spouse" means a person who is married to
  a military service member.
               (5)  "Military veteran" means a person who has served
  on active duty and who was discharged or released from active duty.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 434.026 to read as follows:
         Sec. 434.026.  STATE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE STUDY. (a) In
  this section:
               (1)  "Active duty" means current full-time military
  service in the armed forces of the United States or active duty
  military service as a member of the Texas military forces, as
  defined by Section 437.001, Government Code, or similar military
  service of another state.
               (2)  "Armed forces of the United States" means the
  army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United
  States or a reserve unit of one of those branches of the armed
  forces.
               (3)  "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission.
               (4)  "Licensing authority" means a department,
  commission, board, office, or other agency of this state that
  issues an occupational license.
               (5)  "Military service member" means a person who is on
  active duty.
               (6)  "Military spouse" means a person who is married to
  a military service member.
               (7)  "Military veteran" means a person who has served
  on active duty and who was discharged or released from active duty.
               (8)  "Occupational license" means a license,
  certificate, registration, permit, or other authorization that a
  person must obtain to practice or engage in a lawful occupation.
               (9)  "Occupational licensing requirement" means a law
  or policy requiring a person to obtain an occupational license.
         (b)  The commission shall conduct a study to:
               (1)  identify the occupational licenses for which a
  significant number of military service members, military veterans,
  or military spouses submit applications to licensing authorities in
  this state;
               (2)  examine the occupational licensing requirements
  of each licensing authority identified in Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  identify opportunities for licensing authorities
  to:
                     (A)  accept substantially equivalent occupational
  licensing requirements for documentation, training, education, and
  experience, including clinical and professional experience, from
  licensing authorities outside this state to enable a military
  service member, military veteran, or military spouse to obtain
  licensure in this state; and
                     (B)  issue temporary licenses to military service
  members, military veterans, and military spouses who apply for a
  license and hold a current license issued by another jurisdiction
  that has licensing requirements substantially equivalent to the
  licensing requirements of this state.
         (c)  Not later than December 1, 2020, the commission shall
  prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and
  the legislature a report concerning the results of the study
  conducted under this section, including any recommendations for
  legislative or other action the commission considers necessary.
         (d)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
         SECTION 3.  Section 55.004, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (a-1) and (d) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  In adopting rules under Subsection (a), the state
  agency shall ensure that a military service member, military
  veteran, or military spouse receives appropriate credit for the
  individual's experience, including clinical and professional
  experience, in a licensed profession.
         (d)  A state agency that issues a license that has a
  residency requirement for license eligibility shall adopt rules to
  allow a military service member or military spouse applicant to
  establish residency for purposes of this subsection by providing to
  the agency a copy of the member's or spouse's permanent change of
  station order or military identification card.
         SECTION 4.  Section 55.010, Occupations Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 55.010.  NOTICE OF CHAPTER PROVISIONS. (a) A state
  agency that issues a license shall prominently post a notice on the
  home page of the agency's Internet website describing the
  provisions of this chapter that are available to military service
  members, military veterans, and military spouses.
         (b)  A state agency that issues a license under rules adopted
  under Section 55.004 shall notify the Texas Veterans Commission
  immediately on determining that the requirements of a license of
  this state are substantially equivalent to those of another
  jurisdiction.
         (c)  The Texas Veterans Commission shall establish and
  maintain an Internet website to serve as a single location for
  military service members, military veterans, and military spouses
  to access information regarding the issuance of a license by a state
  agency to a military service member, military veteran, or military
  spouse who is licensed in another jurisdiction, including a list of
  each license of this state and license of another jurisdiction that
  is determined by a state agency to be substantially equivalent.
         SECTION 5.  Section 2, Chapter 1048 (H.B. 1934), Acts of the
  85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is repealed.
         SECTION 6.  Not later than January 1, 2020, the Texas
  Veterans Commission shall establish the Internet website required
  by Section 55.010(c), Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 7.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an initial application for or an application for renewal of an
  occupational license filed on or after the effective date of this
  Act. An application for a license filed before the effective date of
  this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that
  date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.