Honorable Cole Hefner, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB5629 by Wilson (Relating to the occupational licensing of military service members, military veterans, and military spouses.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
To the extent that the bill would eliminate some license application and examination fees not currently waived that would have been paid by military service members, military veterans, and military spouses, and assuming affected agencies do not raise application and examination fees for other applicants to compensate, state application and examination fee revenue would be reduced. However, the amount of that reduction cannot be determined.
The bill would amend several sections of the Occupation Code relating to the occupational licensing of military service members, military veterans, and military spouses.
The bill would require state agencies to issue licenses to military service members, veterans, and military spouses who currently hold licenses in another jurisdiction where the licensing requirements are similar in scope of practice.
The bill would allow military service members and military spouses, who currently hold licenses in another jurisdiction where the licensing requirements are similar in scope of practice; to engage in a business, or practice their occupation for which a license is required; without obtaining a Texas license.
The bill would require a state agency that issues licenses to waive application and examination fees for military service members, military veterans, and military spouses.
Under current law, a state agency that issues a license is required to waive the license application and examination fees paid to the state for an applicant who is: (1) a military service member or military veteran whose military service, training, or education substantially meets all of the requirements for the license; or (2) a military service member, military veteran, or military spouse who holds a current license issued by another jurisdiction that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for the license in this state.
Under the bill, a state agency that issues a license would be required to waive the license application and examination fees paid to the state for all military members, veterans, and military spouses.
To the extent that the bill would eliminate some license application and examination fees not currently waived that would have been paid by military service members, military veterans, and military spouses, and assuming affected agencies do not raise application and examination fees for other applicants to compensate, state application and examination fee revenue would be reduced. However, the amount of that reduction cannot be determined.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 313 Department of Information Resources, 329 Real Estate Commission, 405 Department of Public Safety, 452 Department of Licensing and Regulation, 454 Department of Insurance, 456 Board of Plumbing Examiners, 457 Board of Public Accountancy, 459 Board of Architectural Examiners, 476 Racing Commission, 503 Texas Medical Board, 504 Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, 507 Texas Board of Nursing, 510 Behavioral Health Executive Council, 515 Board of Pharmacy, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 578 Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners