Bill

HB 442

85(R) - 2017
House Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Senate Business & Commerce
Read Bill & Check Bill Status
House Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Senate Business & Commerce
Occupational Licensing
Open Records

Vote Recommendation

Yes
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Positive

Author(s)

Armando Martinez

Sponsor(s)

Van Taylor

Bill Caption

Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain professions, including the online publication of home addresses of certain occupational license holders.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

If this bill passes individuals licensed as a dyslexia practitioner, dyslexia therapist, or professional counselor would not have their home addresses published on the department’s website. The licensee could request that their home address appear on the website, if they so choose.

This bill would also modify the training program for members of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Phycologists, Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners to include information regarding the scope and limitation of the board. It would also require the training program to include the types of rules that could trigger federal antitrust law regarding scope of practice, advertising, pricing, and barriers to entry.  This bill would require each respective executive director to create a training manual and distribute a copy to each member annually. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill would provide more privacy protection for affected licensed professionals. We support HB 442 because it is an improvement in privacy rights for some licensed professionals and satisfies our principle of individual liberty.