83R1293 SLB-D
 
  By: Flynn H.B. No. 45
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the occupational licensing of members of the military
  and spouses of members of the military.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 55, Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 55. LICENSING OF MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, RECENT VETERANS,
  [LICENSE WHILE ON MILITARY DUTY] AND [FOR] MILITARY SPOUSES 
  [SPOUSE]
         SECTION 2.  Section 55.001, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivisions (1-a), (1-b), and (1-c) to read as follows:
               (1-a)  "Military service member" means a person who is
  currently serving in the armed forces of the United States, in a
  reserve component of the armed forces of the United States,
  including the National Guard, or in the state military service of
  any state.
               (1-b)  "Military spouse" means a person who is married
  to a military service member who is currently on active duty.
               (1-c)  "Recent veteran" means a person who has served
  as a military service member within the 12 months preceding the date
  the person applied for a license in this state.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 55, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Sections 55.005 and 55.006 to read as follows:
         Sec. 55.005.  EXPEDITED LICENSE PROCEDURE. (a) A state
  agency that issues a license shall, as soon as practicable after a
  military service member, recent veteran, or military spouse files
  an application for a license:
               (1)  process the application; and
               (2)  issue a license to a qualified applicant who holds
  a current license issued by another jurisdiction, including a
  branch of the armed forces of the United States, that has licensing
  requirements that are substantially equivalent to the licensing
  requirements in this state.
         (b)  A license issued under this section may not be a
  provisional license and must confer the same rights, privileges,
  and responsibilities as a license not issued under this section.
         Sec. 55.006.  RENEWAL OF EXPEDITED LICENSE. (a) As soon as
  practicable after a state agency issues a license under Section
  55.005, the state agency shall determine the requirements for the
  license holder to renew the license. The renewal requirements must
  be designed so that the license holder must, in order to renew the
  license, satisfy the requirements for the issuance of an original
  license in this state and the requirements to renew the license in
  this state.
         (b)  The agency shall notify the license holder of the
  requirements for renewing the license in writing.
         (c)  A license issued under Section 55.005 expires on the
  first anniversary of the date the state agency provides notice of
  the renewal requirements under Subsection (b). The license holder
  may not renew the license unless the license holder complies with
  the renewal requirements described by Subsection (a).
         SECTION 4.  Section 55.004, Occupations Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 55.005 and 55.006, Occupations Code, as
  added by this Act, apply only to an application for a license filed
  on or after the effective date of this Act. An application for a
  license filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by
  the law in effect on the date the application was filed, and that
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  A state agency that issues an occupational
  license shall adopt any rules necessary to implement Sections
  55.005 and 55.006, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, not later
  than January 1, 2014.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.