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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of code enforcement officers and code |
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enforcement officers in training. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1952.001, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by amending Subdivisions (2) and (2-a) and adding Subdivision (2-b) |
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to read as follows: |
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(2) "Code enforcement officer" means an individual |
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who: |
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(A) works for [agent of] this state or a |
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political subdivision of this state; and |
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(B) [who] engages in code enforcement. |
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(2-a) "Code enforcement officer in training" means an |
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individual who: |
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(A) works for this state or a political |
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subdivision of this state; and |
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(B) engages in code enforcement under the |
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supervision of a code enforcement officer registered under this |
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chapter. |
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(2-b) "Commission" means the Texas Commission of |
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Licensing and Regulation. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1952.002, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1952.002. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. An individual |
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[A person] is not required to be registered under this chapter if |
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the individual [person]: |
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(1) is required to be licensed or registered under |
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another law of this state; and |
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(2) engages in code enforcement under that license or |
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registration. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1952.003, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1952.003. EMPLOYMENT OF REGISTERED INDIVIDUAL |
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[PERSON] NOT REQUIRED. This state or a political subdivision of |
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this state may engage in code enforcement without employing an |
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individual [a person] registered under this chapter, if the |
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individual who is engaging in code enforcement for the state or |
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political subdivision is exempt from registration under Section |
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1952.002. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1952.101, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1952.101. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Except as permitted |
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by Section 1952.002, an individual [a person] may not claim to be a |
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code enforcement officer or use the title "code enforcement |
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officer" unless the individual [person] holds a valid certificate |
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of registration under this chapter. |
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SECTION 5. Section 1952.102, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1952.102. ELIGIBILITY TO REGISTER AS CODE ENFORCEMENT |
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OFFICER. To be eligible to receive a certificate of registration as |
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a code enforcement officer, an individual [a person] must: |
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(1) submit an application in the manner and on the form |
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prescribed by the executive director; |
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(2) have at least one year of full-time experience in |
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the field of code enforcement; |
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(3) pass the examination required by the department; |
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(4) pay the application fee[, examination, and |
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registration fees]; and |
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(5) meet any other requirements prescribed by this |
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chapter or by commission rule. |
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SECTION 6. Section 1952.103(c), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) A code enforcement officer in training may engage in |
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code enforcement under the supervision of a [registered] code |
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enforcement officer registered under this chapter. |
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SECTION 7. Section 1952.104, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1952.104. RECIPROCAL REGISTRATION. On proper |
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application, the department shall issue a certificate of |
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registration to a license holder or registrant of another state |
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that has requirements for the licensing or registration of a code |
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enforcement officer that are at least substantially equivalent to |
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those of this state. |
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SECTION 8. Section 1952.105(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A certificate of registration issued under this chapter |
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expires on the second anniversary of the date of issuance and may be |
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renewed biennially on proper application, payment of the required |
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renewal fee, and [on] completion of the continuing education |
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requirements prescribed by commission rule. |
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SECTION 9. Section 1952.151(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission or executive director may deny an |
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individual's [a person's] application for a certificate of |
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registration if the individual's [person's] certificate or license |
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to engage in code enforcement or a related profession has been |
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revoked by another licensing entity in this state or another state |
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for: |
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(1) unprofessional conduct; |
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(2) fraud, deceit, or negligence; or |
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(3) misconduct in the practice of code enforcement or |
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a related profession. |
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SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |