bill cleaning up the sanitarian registration law

The text as introduced · 757 words

89R10114 DNC-F

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 2444

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of sanitarians and sanitarians in

training.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 1953.001, Occupations Code, is amended

by amending Subdivision (3) and adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as

follows:

(3) "Sanitarian" means an individual [ a person ]

trained in sanitary science to perform duties relating to education

and inspections in environmental sanitation.

(3-a) "Sanitarian in training" means an individual

training in sanitary science while engaged in sanitation.

SECTION 2. Section 1953.003, Occupations Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 1953.003. EXEMPTIONS. This chapter does not apply to

an individual [ a person ], including a physician, dentist, engineer,

or veterinarian, who is licensed by an agency of this state other

than the department and who, by nature of the individual's

[ person's ] employment or duties, might be construed as being

subject to this chapter.

SECTION 3. Section 1953.101, Occupations Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 1953.101. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. An individual [ A

person ] who engages or offers to engage in work in sanitation may

not represent that the individual [ person ] is a sanitarian or use a

title containing the word "sanitarian" unless the individual

[ person ] holds a certificate of registration under this chapter.

SECTION 4. Section 1953.102, Occupations Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 1953.102. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. (a) To be

eligible to receive a certificate of registration as a

[ professional ] sanitarian, an individual [ a person ] must:

(1) hold at least a bachelor's degree from an

accredited college or university that includes at least 30 semester

hours in basic or applied science;

(2) complete any additional training in the basic

sciences or public health the department determines necessary to

effectively serve as a [ professional ] sanitarian; and

(3) have at least two years of full-time experience in

sanitation.

(b) The commission by rule may establish additional [ other ]

qualifications for registration.

SECTION 5. The heading to Section 1953.104, Occupations

Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1953.104. ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE: [ PROFESSIONAL ]

SANITARIAN; TERM.

SECTION 6. Section 1953.104(a), Occupations Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The department shall issue a certificate of

registration as a [ professional ] sanitarian to an individual [ a

person ] who:

(1) applies in the manner and on the form prescribed by

the executive director;

(2) pays the registration fee set by the commission by

rule;

(3) meets the eligibility requirements prescribed by

Section 1953.102 and commission rule ; and

(4) passes the [ an ] examination required by Section

1953.151 [ under Subchapter D ].

SECTION 7. Section 1953.105(a), Occupations Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The department shall issue a certificate of

registration as a sanitarian in training to an individual [ a

person ] who:

(1) is employed in sanitation;

(2) meets the eligibility requirements prescribed by

Section 1953.102, other than the requirements relating to

experience;

(3) has less than one year of full-time experience in

sanitation;

(4) pays a registration fee prescribed by the

commission by rule for a sanitarian in training; and

(5) [ (4) ] passes an examination under Subchapter D.

SECTION 8. Section 1953.106, Occupations Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 1953.106. RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATE. The department

shall [ To ] renew a certificate of registration under this chapter

if the certificate holder [ , a professional sanitarian must ]:

(1) pays [ pay ] to the department a renewal fee

prescribed by the commission by rule; and

(2) provides [ provide ] proof of completion of any

applicable continuing education requirements prescribed by the

commission by rule.

SECTION 9. Section 1953.201(a), Occupations Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The commission or executive director may deny an

individual's [ a person's ] application for a certificate of

registration if:

(1) the individual's [ person's ] certificate or license

to engage in a profession in this state or elsewhere has been

revoked for unprofessional conduct, fraud, deceit, negligence, or

misconduct in the practice of the profession; or

(2) satisfactory proof is presented to the commission

or executive director establishing that the individual [ person ] has

been found guilty of unprofessional conduct, fraud, deceit,

negligence, or misconduct in the practice of a profession.

SECTION 10. Sections 1953.151(b) and (c), Occupations Code,

are repealed.

SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.