HBA-LJP, TBM H.B. 905 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 905
By: McCall
State Affairs
2/9/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Occupational licensing is intended to prohibit unqualified people from
practicing licensed occupations and to protect the public by ensuring
compliance with government regulations. The current occupational licensing
process in Texas is largely paper based which can be expensive and time
consuming. House Bill 905 implements an electronic system for occupational
licensing transactions operated by the Department of Information Resources. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 905 amends the Government Code to require the Department of
Information Resources (DIR) to establish an electronic system for
occupational licensing transactions for state licensing authorities. The
bill specifies the licensing authorities that are required to participate
in the system and provides for the voluntary participation of others. The
bill sets forth provisions for the creation and operation of the system by
DIR, and the fees DIR is required to charge. The bill requires each
licensing authority that participates in the system to comply with DIR's
schedule for the implementation of the system. The bill provides that a
steering committee be established for electronic occupational licensing
transactions. The bill sets forth provisions for the creation, membership,
powers, and duties of the steering committee, and establishes a deadline of
January 1, 2002 for the appointment of committee members. The bill requires
DIR to adopt a schedule for implementing the system by April 1, 2002 that
will permit the initial group of licensing authorities to utilize the
system by September 1, 2002. The bill also requires DIR to report to each
house of the legislature and specified committees on DIR's progress in
implementing the system by January 1, 2003. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.