| 1 | 1 | | 84R13488 RMA-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Goldman H.C.R. No. 97 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Our citizens deserve the freedom to pursue their |
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| 7 | 7 | | chosen career paths without unnecessary interference from the |
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| 8 | 8 | | government, but occupational licensure imposes undue burdens on |
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| 9 | 9 | | many aspiring professionals and disincentives on working in |
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| 10 | 10 | | numerous industries; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The list of occupations subjected to these |
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| 12 | 12 | | regulations continues to expand, with approximately 150 trades and |
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| 13 | 13 | | professions needing a state-issued license; while licensure is |
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| 14 | 14 | | often justified in fields that affect health, safety, and public |
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| 15 | 15 | | welfare, it too frequently imposes onerous fees and requires |
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| 16 | 16 | | state-administered examinations even in areas in which such |
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| 17 | 17 | | concerns are absent; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, In addition to limiting the potential success of |
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| 19 | 19 | | individuals, licensure negatively impacts our economy by reducing |
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| 20 | 20 | | job growth, decreasing competition, discouraging innovation, and |
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| 21 | 21 | | hindering business investment; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, By repealing specific occupational licensure |
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| 23 | 23 | | requirements and reforming general licensing laws, the government |
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| 24 | 24 | | can help advance a free market system that creates boundless |
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| 25 | 25 | | opportunities for individuals and furthers the economic prosperity |
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| 26 | 26 | | of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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| 27 | 27 | | RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 28 | 28 | | hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house |
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| 29 | 29 | | of representatives to create a joint interim committee to conduct a |
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| 30 | 30 | | study on occupational licensing and issues for reform; and, be it |
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| 31 | 31 | | further |
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| 32 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the study specifically examine: |
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| 33 | 33 | | (1) abolishing criminal penalties; |
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| 34 | 34 | | (2) identifying health and safety requirements; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (3) increasing reciprocity for individuals licensed |
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| 36 | 36 | | in other jurisdictions; |
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| 37 | 37 | | (4) eliminating grandfathering practices; |
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| 38 | 38 | | (5) linking licensure requirements to the goal of |
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| 39 | 39 | | protecting the health and safety of the public; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | (6) the potential benefit of enacting a blanket |
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| 41 | 41 | | opt-out exemption for all occupations unrelated to health and |
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| 42 | 42 | | safety, as long as exempted workers disclose that they are |
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| 43 | 43 | | operating without a state-issued license; and, be it further |
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| 44 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be |
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| 45 | 45 | | governed by such general rules and policies for joint interim |
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| 46 | 46 | | committees as the 84th Legislature may adopt. |
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