BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3860

By: Allen

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, applicants for original and renewed licenses are subject to criminal background checks, and applications may be denied if there are criminal convictions or deferred adjudications involving certain offenses. Consequently, the bill author has informed the committee, many individuals who have served sentences in prison are not eligible for certain licenses despite having attained highly marketable skills and experience during their incarceration. H.B. 3860 seeks to address workforce gaps and create opportunities for incarcerated persons who are reentering society by allowing these individuals to receive certain licenses.

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. 3860 amends the Occupations Code to exempt a person who performs air conditioning and refrigeration-related work, electrical work, barbering, or cosmetology as an inmate in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) as part of a reentry program or under supervision acceptable to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation from the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License Law, the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act, and statutory provisions regulating barbers and cosmetologists, as applicable.

H.B. 3860 authorizes the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules authorizing the issuance of a license under those provisions to an applicant who is an inmate of TDCJ.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.