84R2152 MAW-D
By: Israel H.B. No. 672
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain information concerning an applicant for certain
occupational licenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 59, Occupations Code, is amended to read
as follows:
CHAPTER 59. INFORMATION REGARDING LICENSE APPLICANT [RELATING TO
LICENSING]
Sec. 59.001. 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. The term includes the Supreme Court of Texas.
Sec. 59.002. IMMIGRATION STATUS OF APPLICANT. A licensing
authority may not consider the immigration status of an applicant
for a license in determining whether to issue or renew the license.
Sec. 59.003. TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. A licensing
authority that requires an applicant for a license to submit the
applicant's social security number shall accept as a substitute for
the social security number the applicant's individual taxpayer
identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service.
Sec. 59.004. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION
[SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER]. (a) Except as provided by Subsection
(b), the [The] social security number or individual taxpayer
identification number of an applicant for or holder of a license[,
certificate of registration, or other legal authorization] issued
by a licensing authority [agency to practice in a specific
occupation or profession] that is provided to the licensing
authority [agency] is confidential and not subject to disclosure
under Chapter 552, Government Code.
(b) A licensing authority may share with a regulatory agency
of another state the individual taxpayer identification number of
an applicant for or holder of a license if:
(1) the licensing authority requires an applicant to
pass a national examination as part of the license eligibility
requirements; and
(2) a reciprocity agreement exists with the other
state.
SECTION 2. (a) Chapter 59, Occupations Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to an application for an original or renewal
license submitted on or after February 1, 2016. An application
submitted before February 1, 2016, is governed by the law in effect
on the date the application was submitted, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2016, each licensing
authority, as that term is defined by Section 59.001, Occupations
Code, as amended by this Act, shall adopt rules and prescribe forms
necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act to
Chapter 59, Occupations Code.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.