By: Guillen (Senate Sponsor - Parker) H.B. No. 2453

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 2023; April 27, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Business & Commerce; May 12, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 2; May 12, 2023, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the issuance of a digital occupational license by a state agency, county, or municipality.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Title 2, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Chapter 60 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 60. DIGITAL LICENSES

Sec. 60.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Licensing authority" means a state agency, county, or municipality that is authorized to issue an occupational license.

(2) "Occupational license" means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other form of authorization required by statute, ordinance, order, or rule that must be obtained by an individual to engage in a particular business, occupation, or profession.

Sec. 60.002. REQUIREMENTS FOR DIGITAL LICENSES. A licensing authority that issues an occupational license may issue a digital license to a license holder. If the licensing authority issues a digital license, the digital license must comply with the following requirements:

(1) the digital license must be in a secure format and readily accessible by the license holder through an Internet website and on a wireless communication device;

(2) the public must be able to view a license holder's digital license through an Internet website or by using a QR code as defined by Section 443.001, Health and Safety Code; and

(3) if the authority contracts with a vendor for the issuance of a digital license, the digital license must be in a format in which the vendor and authority can verify the validity of the license.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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