Bill: HB 1508, 85(R) - 2017

Committee

House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

2nd Chamber Committee

Senate State Affairs

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral

Author(s)

Ryan Guillen

Sponsor(s)

Eddie Lucio Jr.

Bill Caption

Relating to notice to applicants to and enrollees in certain educational programs regarding the consequences of a criminal conviction on eligibility for an occupational license.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

This bill would require entities that provide educational programs to prepare individuals for issuance of an initial occupational license to notify each applicant and enrollee of certain information related to their occupational license. If this bill passes, these educational entities would be required to inform its patrons about how a criminal history could potentially cause ineligibility for the license, and other certain guidelines and restrictions. If a licensing entity fails to provide the notice, and if the individual was denied due to their prior conviction, they would be entitled to a refund for the application and examination fees. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

Occupational licensure in general is overly broad, highly burdensome, and in many cases offers little benefit whatsoever to the consumer. We support notifying prospective licensees about how a criminal record may affect their ability to gain or retain an occupational license. However, we also believe it is unnecessary for government to mandate private educational programs provide these notices. Instead, the burden should be placed on government to make sure these disqualifiers are well known and clear. For these conflicting reasons, we will remain neutral on HB 1508.

Source URL (retrieved on 03/28/2024 06:03 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/85r/hb1508?print_view=true