Texas House Bill HB846

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/15/09
• Voted on by House: 4/23/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/18/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/21/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/24/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to the license or certificate renewal process for emergency medical services personnel and certain law enforcement officers.

Impact

If enacted, HB 846 would significantly modify the renewal procedures in three specific areas: fire protection, emergency medical services, and law enforcement. It would prevent the relevant authorities from requiring applicants to submit unchanged information from previous applications, thereby encouraging a more user-friendly process. Additionally, applicants would only need to provide updates relevant to any new requirements since their last application, which should alleviate some of the administrative burdens currently faced by these professionals.

Summary

House Bill 846 seeks to streamline the renewal process for licenses and certificates for fire protection personnel, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, and certain law enforcement officers in Texas. The bill introduces amendments to various chapters in the Government Code and Health and Safety Code, focusing on reducing the amount of redundant information that applicants must provide during the renewal process. Essentially, it aims to simplify and make the renewal process more efficient by limiting the requirement for applicants to submit unchanged information that is already on record.

Contention

Despite the potential benefits, there could be points of contention regarding the effectiveness of this bill. Critics may argue that by limiting the information required for renewal, there could be a risk of missing vital updates since the last certification or license renewal. This concern is particularly relevant in sectors such as EMS and law enforcement, where ongoing training and compliance with evolving regulations are critical for safety and public trust. Thus, while the bill aims for efficiency, stakeholders may seek to balance this with the need for comprehensive oversight and thoroughness in renewal procedures.