Middleton’s bill pushing licensing reciprocity with other states

The text as introduced · 533 words

89R8589 DNC-F

By: Middleton
S.B. No. 2531

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to occupational licensing reciprocity agreements.

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

SECTION 1. Title 2, Occupations Code, is amended by adding

Chapter 61 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 61. OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS

Sec. 61.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Licensing authority" means a department,

commission, board, office, or other agency of this state that

issues or renews an occupational license.

(2) "Occupational license" means a license, permit,

registration, certificate, or other form of authorization that must

be obtained by an individual to engage in a business, occupation, or

profession.

Sec. 61.002. GOAL FOR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING RECIPROCITY

AGREEMENTS. Each licensing authority shall:

(1) maximize occupational licensing reciprocity

agreements to the extent allowed by law; and

(2) identify state laws that prevent the licensing

authority from entering into a reciprocity agreement with a

licensing authority in another state.

Sec. 61.003. RULES. A licensing authority shall adopt

rules necessary to implement this chapter. The rules must

establish procedures for the licensing authority to:

(1) determine whether the licensing requirements of

another state are substantially equivalent to the requirements of

this state, taking into consideration:

(A) the level of required training and testing to

obtain a license, including methods used to evaluate work

experience to fulfill training or testing requirements;

(B) the scope of practice for which the license

is issued; and

(C) the procedures used in the other state to

resolve complaints and to determine whether a license holder is in

good standing; and

(2) enter into and implement reciprocity agreements

with licensing authorities in other states that have occupational

licensing requirements substantially equivalent to this state's

requirements.

Sec. 61.004. REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each

odd-numbered year, each licensing authority shall submit to the

governor and the Legislative Budget Board a written report that:

(1) summarizes the licensing authority's efforts under

Section 61.002, including a description of the extent to which this

state's licensing requirements exceed the requirements of other

states;

(2) describes the licensing authority's efforts to

enter into reciprocity agreements with licensing authorities in

other states, including a list of:

(A) each reciprocity agreement entered into; and

(B) any unsuccessful effort to enter into a

reciprocity agreement with a licensing authority of another state;

and

(3) recommends any legislative action that is

necessary or appropriate to increase the number of occupational

license reciprocity agreements as directed by this chapter,

including any reduction of this state's licensing requirements that

would make more reciprocity agreements possible.

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, each licensing

authority shall adopt the rules required by Section 61.003,

Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 61.004, Occupations

Code, as added by this Act, a licensing authority shall submit the

initial report required by that section not later than December 1,

2027.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.