By: Guillen (Senate Sponsor - Parker) H.B. No. 2453
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 2023;
April 27, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on
Business & Commerce; May 12, 2023, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 2; May 12, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the issuance of a digital occupational license by a
state agency, county, or municipality.
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. DIGITAL LICENSES
Sec. 60.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Licensing authority" means a state agency,
county, or municipality that is authorized to issue an occupational
license.
(2) "Occupational license" means a license,
certificate, registration, permit, or other form of authorization
required by statute, ordinance, order, or rule that must be
obtained by an individual to engage in a particular business,
occupation, or profession.
Sec. 60.002. REQUIREMENTS FOR DIGITAL LICENSES. A
licensing authority that issues an occupational license may issue a
digital license to a license holder. If the licensing authority
issues a digital license, the digital license must comply with the
following requirements:
(1) the digital license must be in a secure format and
readily accessible by the license holder through an Internet
website and on a wireless communication device;
(2) the public must be able to view a license holder's
digital license through an Internet website or by using a QR code as
defined by Section 443.001, Health and Safety Code; and
(3) if the authority contracts with a vendor for the
issuance of a digital license, the digital license must be in a
format in which the vendor and authority can verify the validity of
the license.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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