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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to occupational licensing reciprocity agreements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 2, Occupations Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 61 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 61. OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS |
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Sec. 61.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Licensing authority" means a department, |
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commission, board, office, or other agency of this state that |
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issues or renews an occupational license. |
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(2) "Occupational license" means a license, permit, |
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registration, certificate, or other form of authorization that must |
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be obtained by an individual to engage in a business, occupation, or |
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profession. |
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Sec. 61.002. GOAL FOR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING RECIPROCITY |
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AGREEMENTS. Each licensing authority shall: |
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(1) maximize occupational licensing reciprocity |
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agreements to the extent allowed by law; and |
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(2) identify state laws that prevent the licensing |
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authority from entering into a reciprocity agreement with a |
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licensing authority in another state. |
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Sec. 61.003. RULES. A licensing authority shall adopt |
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rules necessary to implement this chapter. The rules must |
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establish procedures for the licensing authority to: |
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(1) determine whether the licensing requirements of |
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another state are substantially equivalent to the requirements of |
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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) enter into and implement reciprocity agreements |
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with licensing authorities in other states that have occupational |
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licensing requirements substantially equivalent to this state's |
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requirements. |
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Sec. 61.004. REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each |
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odd-numbered year, each licensing authority shall submit to the |
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governor and the Legislative Budget Board a written report that: |
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(1) summarizes the licensing authority's efforts under |
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Section 61.002, including a description of the extent to which this |
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state's licensing requirements exceed the requirements of other |
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states; |
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(2) describes the licensing authority's efforts to |
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enter into reciprocity agreements with licensing authorities in |
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other states, 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 occupational |
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license reciprocity agreements as directed by this chapter, |
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including any reduction of this state's licensing requirements that |
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would make more reciprocity agreements possible. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, each licensing |
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authority shall adopt the rules required by Section 61.003, |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 61.004, Occupations |
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Code, as added by this Act, a licensing authority shall submit the |
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initial report required by that section not later than December 1, |
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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. |