82R410 JAM-D
By: Solomons H.B. No. 197
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of certain documentation before a person
may engage in a licensed occupation; providing a criminal penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 2, Occupations Code, is amended by adding
Chapter 60 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 60. PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP OR AUTHORIZATION TO WORK REQUIRED
Sec. 60.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "License" means a license, certificate,
registration, permit, or other authorization that:
(A) is issued by a licensing authority; and
(B) a person must obtain to practice or engage in
a particular business, occupation, or profession.
(2) "Licensing authority" means a department,
commission, board, office, or other agency of the state that issues
a license.
Sec. 60.002. PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP OR AUTHORIZATION TO WORK
REQUIRED. A person who is licensed to practice or engage in a
particular business, occupation, or profession may engage in that
work under the license only after the person provides to the
licensing authority documentation that the person is:
(1) a citizen of the United States; or
(2) lawfully present in the United States and
authorized to engage in the work authorized under the license.
Sec. 60.003. SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTATION. (a) A license
holder shall submit the documentation required by Section 60.002 to
the appropriate licensing authority:
(1) at the time of an application for renewal of the
license; and
(2) if the license is issued for the first time on or
after January 1, 2012, not later than the 30th day after the date of
issuance of the license.
(b) Each licensing authority by rule shall prescribe forms
and procedures by which a license holder may submit the
documentation required by Section 60.002.
Sec. 60.004. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an
offense if the person violates this chapter.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. (a) Chapter 60, Occupations Code, as added by
this Act, takes effect January 1, 2012.
(b) Each licensing authority in this state that is subject
to Chapter 60, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, shall adopt
rules necessary to comply with that chapter not later than December
1, 2011.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.