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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to licensing reciprocity agreements entered into by the |
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Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 51, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter K to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER K. LICENSING RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS |
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Sec. 51.551. GOALS FOR LICENSING RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS. |
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(a) The department shall maximize licensing reciprocity |
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agreements, with respect to licenses issued by the department, to |
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the extent allowed by law. |
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(b) The department shall identify state laws that prevent |
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the department from entering into a reciprocity agreement with a |
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licensing authority in another state. |
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Sec. 51.552. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules |
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necessary to implement this subchapter. The rules must establish |
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procedures for: |
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(1) the department to determine whether the licensing |
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requirements of another state are substantially equivalent to the |
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requirements of this state, taking into consideration: |
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(A) the level of required training and testing to |
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obtain a license, including methods used to evaluate work |
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experience to fulfill training or testing requirements; |
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(B) the scope of practice for which the license |
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is issued; and |
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(C) the procedures used in the other state to |
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resolve complaints and to determine whether a license holder is in |
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good standing; and |
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(2) the department to enter into and implement |
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reciprocity agreements with licensing authorities in other states |
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that have licensing requirements substantially equivalent to this |
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state's requirements. |
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Sec. 51.553. REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each |
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odd-numbered year, the department shall submit to the governor and |
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the Legislative Budget Board a written report that: |
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(1) summarizes the department's efforts under Section |
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51.551, including a description of the extent to which this state's |
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licensing requirements exceed the requirements of other states; |
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(2) describes the department's efforts to enter into |
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reciprocity agreements with licensing authorities in other states, |
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including a list of: |
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(A) each reciprocity agreement entered into; and |
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(B) any unsuccessful effort to enter into a |
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reciprocity agreement with a licensing authority of another state; |
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and |
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(3) recommends any legislative action that is |
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necessary or appropriate to increase the number of license |
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reciprocity agreements as directed by this subchapter, including |
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any reduction of this state's licensing requirements that would |
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make more reciprocity agreements possible. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas |
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Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt the rules |
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required by Section 51.552, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 51.553, Occupations |
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Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Department of Licensing and |
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Regulation shall submit the initial report required by that section |
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not later than December 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |