83R3178 MAW-F By: Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 798 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to certain actions taken by certain licensing authorities regarding a license holder or applicant who has been convicted of a Class C misdemeanor. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 53.021(a), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A licensing authority may suspend or revoke a license, disqualify a person from receiving a license, or deny to a person the opportunity to take a licensing examination on the grounds that the person has been convicted of an offense, other than an offense punishable as a Class C misdemeanor, that: (1) [an offense that] directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the licensed occupation; (2) [an offense that] does not directly relate to the duties and responsibilities of the licensed occupation and that was committed less than five years before the date the person applies for the license; (3) is [an offense] listed in Section 3g, Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure; or (4) is a sexually violent offense, as defined by Article 62.001, Code of Criminal Procedure. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an application for, or a disciplinary proceeding regarding, a license or other authorization that is pending with a licensing authority on the effective date of this Act or an application filed or a disciplinary proceeding commenced on or after that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.